If you've been joining
us on our study journey
00:00:01.33\00:00:03.67
here in the last couple of weeks
00:00:03.73\00:00:05.20
on 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:00:05.23\00:00:06.57
Then you know we're studying
through the Book of Isaiah,
00:00:06.60\00:00:09.20
such a powerful book, indeed.
00:00:09.24\00:00:11.24
And you know what?
00:00:11.27\00:00:12.61
There may be someone who is
new to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel
00:00:12.64\00:00:15.51
who may not know
00:00:15.54\00:00:16.91
how to get access to a
copy of our study lessons.
00:00:16.95\00:00:19.85
So we want to tell
you that right now,
00:00:19.88\00:00:21.32
of course, we
always encourage you
00:00:21.35\00:00:22.98
to go to your local
Seventh-Day Adventist Church,
00:00:23.02\00:00:24.89
where you can study
with like-minded brethren.
00:00:24.92\00:00:26.92
And, of course,
00:00:26.96\00:00:28.29
they will give
you a copy for free,
00:00:28.32\00:00:29.69
but, of course, you can
access the study online for free
00:00:29.72\00:00:33.36
at ABSG.Adventist.org.
00:00:33.40\00:00:37.83
And there you can
get a free digital copy
00:00:37.87\00:00:39.87
to be able to see it
on your iPad, computer,
00:00:39.90\00:00:42.27
whatever it is
you're studying with.
00:00:42.30\00:00:43.64
So, again,
00:00:43.67\00:00:45.01
we don't want you to go anywhere
00:00:45.04\00:00:46.37
because we're about to dive
00:00:46.41\00:00:47.74
into lesson
number three this week
00:00:47.78\00:00:49.11
in our study on Isaiah entitled,
00:00:49.14\00:00:50.81
"When Your World
Is Falling Apart."
00:00:50.88\00:00:53.55
See you in just a moment.
00:00:53.58\00:00:54.92
Hello, friends, and
welcome to another week
00:01:25.95\00:01:27.75
of 3ABN Sabbath School Panel,
00:01:27.78\00:01:29.98
where we are always
thankful to have you.
00:01:30.05\00:01:31.89
And we're making our way
through the Book of Isaiah.
00:01:31.92\00:01:34.62
This is week number three,
00:01:34.66\00:01:36.19
in which we're
going to be talking about
00:01:36.22\00:01:37.93
when your world
is falling apart.
00:01:37.96\00:01:40.66
I think we've all had
that experience, right,
00:01:40.70\00:01:42.26
where it seems like
maybe for a moment in time,
00:01:42.30\00:01:44.83
our world just
seems to not be going
00:01:44.87\00:01:46.77
just the way we want it to,
00:01:46.80\00:01:48.77
but the Lord has
an answer for that.
00:01:48.80\00:01:50.87
And we're going to see
that clearly in His Word today
00:01:50.91\00:01:53.34
and in this study.
00:01:53.41\00:01:54.74
Before I go any further,
00:01:54.78\00:01:56.11
I would like to
introduce our panel
00:01:56.14\00:01:57.78
as each and every week.
00:01:57.81\00:01:59.15
I'm excited to be able
to study with you guys.
00:01:59.18\00:02:01.62
And we have a
blessing this week.
00:02:01.65\00:02:03.25
We have brother Greg
Morikone, president of 3ABN.
00:02:03.28\00:02:05.95
It's a blessing
to have you, Brother.
00:02:05.99\00:02:07.39
Thank you. It's good to be here.
00:02:07.46\00:02:08.79
And, of course, to
study of the Word of God
00:02:08.82\00:02:10.16
is always a blessing.
00:02:10.19\00:02:11.53
So blessing to be
here with you guys.
00:02:11.56\00:02:12.89
Amen.
00:02:12.93\00:02:14.23
And, of course, next to
you is Pastor John Lomacang.
00:02:14.30\00:02:15.76
Brother, it's
good to see you here.
00:02:15.80\00:02:17.27
You know what a title
00:02:17.33\00:02:18.67
when the world is falling apart.
00:02:18.70\00:02:20.30
What an interesting lesson,
we're looking forward to it.
00:02:20.34\00:02:22.30
Amen.
00:02:22.34\00:02:23.67
Of course, next to you
is our sister Jill Morikone,
00:02:23.71\00:02:26.68
and you're the vice
president, COO of 3ABN.
00:02:26.74\00:02:29.88
And it's always a blessing.
I know you've got to list.
00:02:29.91\00:02:33.52
There might be
something in there.
00:02:33.58\00:02:35.22
Always a joy to
open up God's Word.
00:02:35.25\00:02:36.79
And one of my
favorite books, Isaiah.
00:02:36.85\00:02:38.19
Amen.
00:02:38.22\00:02:39.55
You know, Pastor Ryan,
I'm going to add in there
00:02:39.59\00:02:40.92
that she's actually my wife too.
00:02:40.96\00:02:42.29
That's right. Yay!
00:02:42.32\00:02:44.49
Absolutely.
00:02:44.53\00:02:46.06
And, of course, far on
the other end down there
00:02:46.09\00:02:49.33
of this big table, we
have Ms. Shelley Quinn,
00:02:49.36\00:02:51.53
and it's always a blessing
to have you as well, Sister.
00:02:51.57\00:02:53.57
Oh, I love studying with you all
00:02:53.60\00:02:56.00
'cause I learn so much.
00:02:56.04\00:02:58.14
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:02:58.17\00:03:00.31
We have lots and
lots and lots to study
00:03:00.38\00:03:02.88
to talk about
during this hour together.
00:03:02.91\00:03:05.41
But before we go any further,
00:03:05.45\00:03:07.02
I'm gonna ask
brother, Greg Morikone,
00:03:07.05\00:03:08.82
if you wouldn't mind
opening us in a word of prayer.
00:03:08.85\00:03:11.69
Absolutely. Glad to do it.
00:03:11.72\00:03:13.46
Father in heaven, Lord,
we're grateful for this day
00:03:13.49\00:03:16.16
that You've blessed us with.
00:03:16.19\00:03:17.53
Thank You that we
can open Your Word.
00:03:17.56\00:03:19.49
And when it seems like
our world is falling apart,
00:03:19.53\00:03:21.63
Lord, all we
have to do is look up
00:03:21.66\00:03:23.03
because You've got
everything under control.
00:03:23.06\00:03:25.27
Lord, we just pray
for Your Holy Spirit
00:03:25.30\00:03:26.70
to be with us,
lead and guide us.
00:03:26.74\00:03:28.07
We thank You, in
Jesus' name we pray.
00:03:28.10\00:03:29.70
Amen. Amen
00:03:29.74\00:03:31.07
Amen. Thank you so much.
00:03:31.11\00:03:33.38
Our memory text.
00:03:33.44\00:03:34.94
I think this
sums up probably this,
00:03:34.98\00:03:36.85
obviously this entire study
00:03:36.91\00:03:38.38
that we're going to
be talking about today
00:03:38.41\00:03:40.18
when your world is falling apart
00:03:40.22\00:03:42.25
and when your
world is falling apart,
00:03:42.28\00:03:44.39
keep in mind our
memory text, Isaiah 7:9,
00:03:44.42\00:03:48.22
which tells us,
00:03:48.26\00:03:49.59
"If you will not believe,
00:03:49.62\00:03:51.59
surely you shall
not be established."
00:03:51.63\00:03:55.76
I love Sabbath
afternoon's lesson
00:03:55.80\00:03:57.57
because it has a nice story
00:03:57.60\00:03:59.57
to kind of illustrate
and set the foundation
00:03:59.60\00:04:02.84
for what it is we're studying
00:04:02.87\00:04:04.37
and the story was
kind of an interesting one
00:04:04.41\00:04:06.78
because I think we
could somewhat relate to this.
00:04:06.81\00:04:09.51
Lady and gentlemen
00:04:09.54\00:04:10.88
was coming home
one day from church,
00:04:10.95\00:04:12.78
I guess it was on
a Sabbath afternoon.
00:04:12.81\00:04:14.65
And as they were
pulling into their driveway
00:04:14.68\00:04:17.62
one of their pet birds,
00:04:17.65\00:04:19.62
I guess it was a chicken
00:04:19.65\00:04:20.99
goes flying across
the hood of their vehicle
00:04:21.02\00:04:22.99
and they
immediately stopped the car
00:04:23.02\00:04:24.73
because they knew
that wasn't normal.
00:04:24.76\00:04:26.26
That wasn't right, right?
00:04:26.29\00:04:27.60
Because they
normally keep them locked up
00:04:27.66\00:04:28.96
and put away,
00:04:29.00\00:04:30.33
but they were out.
00:04:30.37\00:04:31.70
And so they knew immediately
00:04:31.73\00:04:33.07
there was some
type of issue going on.
00:04:33.10\00:04:34.47
And as they
investigated the situation,
00:04:34.50\00:04:36.81
they found that
00:04:36.87\00:04:38.21
the neighbor's dog
had gotten also loose
00:04:38.24\00:04:41.08
and made its way into the area
00:04:41.11\00:04:43.08
in which they
kept the pet birds.
00:04:43.11\00:04:44.91
And, of course,
as they investigated,
00:04:44.95\00:04:46.88
they found that
there was a couple of birds
00:04:46.92\00:04:50.15
that had been killed.
00:04:50.19\00:04:51.52
And, of course, the
family was close to these birds.
00:04:51.55\00:04:53.72
They were their pet birds.
00:04:53.76\00:04:55.09
And as the mother was
laying there in the lawn,
00:04:55.12\00:04:58.33
I guess, kind of embracing
and holding the you know,
00:04:58.36\00:05:00.83
the lifeless
bodies of these birds
00:05:00.86\00:05:02.26
and weeping, of
course, in distress.
00:05:02.30\00:05:05.13
They also have
another pet on this farm,
00:05:05.17\00:05:07.34
sounds like old
McDonald's farm almost.
00:05:07.37\00:05:09.17
They had
another pet on this farm
00:05:09.20\00:05:10.84
or on this property.
00:05:10.91\00:05:12.24
It was a duck.
00:05:12.27\00:05:13.61
And the duck was,
you know, often, okay.
00:05:13.64\00:05:15.48
But in this situation,
00:05:15.51\00:05:16.85
as the duck was taking
in the scene of the mother
00:05:16.88\00:05:19.15
or the lady there
holding the two birds,
00:05:19.18\00:05:20.98
this bird, this
duck perceived that
00:05:21.02\00:05:23.32
the mother had
killed the two birds
00:05:23.39\00:05:25.25
and it kind of caused distress
in the mind of the duck.
00:05:25.29\00:05:28.56
And so now every
single day after this,
00:05:28.59\00:05:31.19
when it normally
would not do this before,
00:05:31.23\00:05:33.50
of course the duck
would then attack the owner
00:05:33.53\00:05:36.87
because in its mind
00:05:36.93\00:05:39.60
the mother was
responsible for the deaths
00:05:39.63\00:05:41.60
of these other two birds.
00:05:41.64\00:05:43.00
And so the lesson ends with,
00:05:43.04\00:05:45.51
sometimes it's hard to sort out
00:05:45.54\00:05:48.41
who your
friends and enemies are.
00:05:48.44\00:05:51.15
And I thought that that was
a nice, interesting foundation
00:05:51.18\00:05:53.48
because all of us can
relate to a certain extent.
00:05:53.52\00:05:56.15
We live in a world today
where it's just hard to trust.
00:05:56.18\00:05:59.02
It's hard to really understand
00:05:59.05\00:06:00.49
and know, who's your
friend, who's your enemy,
00:06:00.52\00:06:02.46
who can you trust,
who can you not trust.
00:06:02.49\00:06:05.19
And that is exactly
00:06:05.23\00:06:06.56
what lesson three
is all about this week
00:06:06.59\00:06:08.30
is that we for sure.
00:06:08.33\00:06:09.73
And I'm just going to
kind of lay the thesis
00:06:09.76\00:06:11.53
of this whole thing out here.
00:06:11.57\00:06:13.03
If we can't trust in the Lord,
00:06:13.07\00:06:14.50
then who can we trust in, right?
00:06:14.54\00:06:16.07
At the end of the day,
00:06:16.10\00:06:17.44
you know, for sure
00:06:17.51\00:06:18.84
that you can trust
in the Word of the Lord.
00:06:18.87\00:06:21.04
And, of course,
the Lord of that Word.
00:06:21.08\00:06:23.55
And I'm going to go on
to Sunday's lesson now,
00:06:23.58\00:06:26.82
which is entitled,
00:06:26.85\00:06:28.22
"Danger from the North."
00:06:28.25\00:06:29.58
And it kind of illustrates
and helps set the foundation
00:06:29.62\00:06:32.35
for what Isaiah Chapter 7
00:06:32.39\00:06:35.29
in this case is talking about
00:06:35.32\00:06:37.16
in reference to the
experience of King Ahaz.
00:06:37.23\00:06:40.73
And I was looking at
the how to pronounce this,
00:06:40.80\00:06:42.76
you know, we read
it in our English Ahaz,
00:06:42.80\00:06:44.53
and I'm going to say King Ahaz,
00:06:44.57\00:06:45.90
'cause it's just easy to
say, but I think it's like Ahaz.
00:06:45.93\00:06:48.94
I think that's how
00:06:48.97\00:06:50.31
you would say
it in the original.
00:06:50.37\00:06:51.71
His name is Ahaz.
00:06:51.74\00:06:53.07
We're not going to say that
00:06:53.11\00:06:54.44
'cause that's gonna
cause me to say a lot of things
00:06:54.48\00:06:55.91
that is going to be difficult,
00:06:55.94\00:06:57.31
but Ahaz is what
we're gonna stick with,
00:06:57.35\00:06:59.38
King Ahaz.
00:06:59.41\00:07:00.85
I wanna start here
00:07:00.88\00:07:02.22
by kind of opening
up who is King Ahaz
00:07:02.25\00:07:04.22
and what does the
Bible reveal about
00:07:04.25\00:07:05.59
what kind of king that he was?
00:07:05.62\00:07:08.69
I want us to go to
2 Kings Chapter 16.
00:07:08.72\00:07:10.86
We're gonna go there
00:07:10.89\00:07:12.23
because the Bible
tells us in 2 Kings 16
00:07:12.26\00:07:15.56
and also in second, or excuse
yes, 2 Chronicles Chapter 28,
00:07:15.60\00:07:19.93
it reveals to us
what kind of king,
00:07:19.97\00:07:23.07
King Ahaz really was.
00:07:23.10\00:07:25.57
And, you know, there's
many, many different kings of,
00:07:25.61\00:07:29.84
what we would
consider the nation of Israel.
00:07:29.88\00:07:31.61
But, of course, at this point,
00:07:31.65\00:07:32.98
we're talking about a
divided nation of Israel,
00:07:33.01\00:07:35.32
kingdom of the North
kingdom of the South.
00:07:35.35\00:07:37.09
You have Judah in the South.
00:07:37.12\00:07:38.45
And, of course, the
10 tribes in the North,
00:07:38.49\00:07:40.39
which is referred
to often as Ephraim.
00:07:40.46\00:07:42.46
We see here that King Ahaz
00:07:42.49\00:07:44.53
was one of the
kings of the South,
00:07:44.56\00:07:47.13
which is one of
the kings of Judah.
00:07:47.20\00:07:48.50
And the Bible reveals that
he wasn't a very good king.
00:07:48.53\00:07:51.77
Notice what the Bible
says in 2 Kings Chapter 16,
00:07:51.80\00:07:54.44
beginning in verse 2
through verse 4, it says,
00:07:54.47\00:07:57.11
"Ahaz was 20 years
old when he became king
00:07:57.17\00:08:00.61
and he reigned 16
years in Jerusalem,
00:08:00.64\00:08:02.98
and he did not do what was right
00:08:03.01\00:08:05.21
in the sight of the Lord,
00:08:05.25\00:08:06.58
his God as his
father David had done.
00:08:06.61\00:08:10.35
But he walked in the
way of the kings of Israel."
00:08:10.42\00:08:14.12
Of course, this is
speaking in a negative context,
00:08:14.19\00:08:16.29
the bad kings before him.
00:08:16.32\00:08:17.99
He goes on to say,
00:08:18.03\00:08:19.36
"Indeed he made his
son pass through the fire,
00:08:19.39\00:08:21.80
according to the
abominations of the nations,
00:08:21.83\00:08:25.10
whom the Lord had cast out
00:08:25.13\00:08:26.84
from before the
children of Israel.
00:08:26.87\00:08:29.70
And he sacrificed
00:08:29.74\00:08:31.07
and burned
incense on the high places
00:08:31.11\00:08:33.51
on the hills and
under every green tree."
00:08:33.58\00:08:36.58
So this was not a good king.
00:08:36.61\00:08:38.15
In fact, 2
Chronicles 28: 2-4 goes on
00:08:38.18\00:08:42.28
to tell us how he molded
images for the Baals of Gore.
00:08:42.32\00:08:45.32
We're talking about the
Baals were the gods of the sun
00:08:45.35\00:08:48.39
that they would
worship the Astaroths
00:08:48.42\00:08:50.93
and the goddesses of
and gods of fertility.
00:08:50.96\00:08:53.80
All of these false gods
00:08:53.83\00:08:55.30
that the heathen
nations around Israel,
00:08:55.33\00:08:57.17
that God was
calling them out of from.
00:08:57.23\00:08:59.30
He was wanting
them to be separate,
00:08:59.33\00:09:01.27
to be peculiar in a holy way
00:09:01.30\00:09:03.34
from these other
surrounding nations.
00:09:03.37\00:09:04.74
But King Ahaz
had led them in a way
00:09:04.77\00:09:07.84
that was not according
to the covenant of the Lord.
00:09:07.88\00:09:10.31
It was not according
to God's commandments.
00:09:10.38\00:09:12.71
And so, now we see
00:09:12.75\00:09:14.92
when we go onto the bulk
study of our lesson here,
00:09:14.95\00:09:17.35
the passage
00:09:17.42\00:09:18.75
that really we're studying
today is Isaiah Chapter 7.
00:09:18.79\00:09:21.39
And so let's go there.
00:09:21.42\00:09:22.76
I'm gonna read
through these verses
00:09:22.79\00:09:24.16
to set the scenario,
00:09:24.19\00:09:25.53
and then we're gonna
have some closing comments
00:09:25.56\00:09:26.90
on what is happening
here and how does it pertain
00:09:26.93\00:09:29.23
to what we can
learn in reference to
00:09:29.26\00:09:30.80
when our world is falling apart.
00:09:30.87\00:09:33.27
Isaiah 7:1-9.
00:09:33.34\00:09:35.94
This is the scenario
00:09:35.97\00:09:37.51
in which King Ahaz finds himself
00:09:37.54\00:09:39.01
in an interesting predicament.
00:09:39.04\00:09:40.51
Who can he trust?
00:09:40.58\00:09:41.91
Who is he going
to put his trust in?
00:09:41.94\00:09:43.45
Notice what the Bible says.
00:09:43.48\00:09:44.85
"Now it came to
pass in the days of Ahaz
00:09:44.88\00:09:46.82
the son of Jotham, "
00:09:46.85\00:09:48.18
I guess that's how
you would say that,
00:09:48.22\00:09:49.75
"the son of
Uzziah, king of Judah,
00:09:49.78\00:09:53.22
that Rezin king
of Syria and Pekah
00:09:53.25\00:09:56.42
the son of
Remaliah, king of Israel,
00:09:56.46\00:09:58.93
went up to Jerusalem
to make war against it,
00:09:58.96\00:10:02.06
but could not
prevail against it.
00:10:02.10\00:10:04.60
And it was told to the
house of David, saying,
00:10:04.63\00:10:07.04
'Syria's forces are
deployed in Ephraim.'
00:10:07.10\00:10:10.91
So his heart and the
heart of his people were moved
00:10:10.94\00:10:13.94
as the trees of the
woods are moved in the wind.' "
00:10:13.98\00:10:17.88
That was some
movable hearts, right?
00:10:17.91\00:10:19.31
They were not
grounded in the Lord's ways.
00:10:19.35\00:10:21.32
That's why fear set upon them.
00:10:21.35\00:10:23.08
Verse 3,
00:10:23.12\00:10:24.45
"Then the Lord said to Isaiah,
00:10:24.49\00:10:25.82
'Go out now to meet
Ahaz, you and Shear-Jashub."
00:10:25.85\00:10:31.09
I guess that's how
you would say these names.
00:10:31.13\00:10:33.29
There's a lot of
interesting names
00:10:33.36\00:10:34.66
in this study.
00:10:34.73\00:10:36.03
"Your son, at the
end of the aqueduct
00:10:36.06\00:10:38.47
from the upper pool,
00:10:38.50\00:10:39.83
on the highway to
the Fuller's Field,
00:10:39.87\00:10:41.77
and say to him."
00:10:41.80\00:10:43.14
So he's going to
talk to the king,
00:10:43.17\00:10:44.51
"Take heed, and be
quiet, the Bible says,
00:10:44.54\00:10:47.24
do not fear or be fainthearted
00:10:47.31\00:10:49.58
for these two stubs
of smoking firebrands,
00:10:49.61\00:10:52.35
for the fierce
anger of Rezin and Syria,
00:10:52.38\00:10:55.78
and the son of Remaliah.
00:10:55.82\00:10:57.52
Because Syria,
Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah
00:10:57.55\00:11:00.16
have plotted evil
against you, saying,
00:11:00.19\00:11:03.09
'Let us go up
against Judah and trouble it,
00:11:03.12\00:11:05.33
and let us make
a gap in its wall
00:11:05.36\00:11:07.50
for ourselves,
00:11:07.60\00:11:08.90
and set a king over
them, the son of Tabel.'
00:11:08.93\00:11:12.47
thus says the Lord God.' "
00:11:12.50\00:11:14.87
So here it is.
00:11:14.90\00:11:16.67
As we continue on
here in verse 8 here,
00:11:16.71\00:11:20.14
we're going on
through verse 7 into verse 8.
00:11:20.18\00:11:22.14
So let's just keep in mind.
00:11:22.18\00:11:23.51
There's an
alliance being created
00:11:23.55\00:11:24.95
between the kings of the North,
00:11:24.98\00:11:26.88
in this case,
00:11:26.92\00:11:28.25
the kingdom of the
Northern region of Israel.
00:11:28.28\00:11:30.45
So the Northern
kingdom and the king of Syria,
00:11:30.49\00:11:32.85
and they're wanting to come
against the Southern kingdom.
00:11:32.89\00:11:35.19
So notice what verse 8
and 9 continues to say,
00:11:35.22\00:11:37.63
"It shall not stand,
nor shall it come to pass."
00:11:37.66\00:11:40.10
Verse 8,
00:11:40.16\00:11:41.46
"For the head of
Syria is Damascus,
00:11:41.50\00:11:42.90
and the head of
Damascus is Rezin.
00:11:42.93\00:11:45.23
Within 65 years,
00:11:45.27\00:11:46.80
Ephraim will be broken so
that it will not be a people.
00:11:46.87\00:11:49.94
The head of Ephraim is Samaria.
00:11:49.97\00:11:51.41
And the head of
Samaria is Remaliah's son.
00:11:51.44\00:11:54.04
If you will not believe, surely
you shall not be established."
00:11:54.11\00:11:57.51
There's our memory text.
00:11:57.58\00:11:59.35
If you will not believe,
00:11:59.38\00:12:00.82
you shall not
surely be established.
00:12:00.85\00:12:02.72
So they've come
together to form this alliance
00:12:02.75\00:12:05.19
because they ultimately why?
00:12:05.22\00:12:07.29
They're coming together
00:12:07.36\00:12:08.69
because they're hearing wind
00:12:08.72\00:12:10.06
of the growing
kingdom of Assyria
00:12:10.09\00:12:12.56
and the king of Assyria
00:12:12.59\00:12:13.93
and their armies are growing,
their empire is growing.
00:12:14.00\00:12:15.63
So if they can take over
Judah, the Southern kingdom,
00:12:15.66\00:12:18.90
they can plant a
puppet there, a puppet ruler,
00:12:18.93\00:12:21.30
and they can take
over its resources
00:12:21.34\00:12:23.77
and they can have a
little bit more of a stronghold
00:12:23.81\00:12:25.97
and an influence in coming
against the king of Syria.
00:12:26.01\00:12:29.41
Now, what was the
response of King Ahaz?
00:12:29.44\00:12:33.52
That's the question
00:12:33.58\00:12:34.92
'cause the Lord
has sent His prophet,
00:12:34.95\00:12:36.42
the prophet has spoken.
00:12:36.45\00:12:37.79
He has communicated
what the will of the Lord is,
00:12:37.82\00:12:39.92
trust in the Lord.
00:12:39.95\00:12:41.29
The Lord will
see you through this.
00:12:41.32\00:12:42.66
What was the response of Ahaz?
00:12:42.69\00:12:44.09
Well, let's go
into the 2 King 16:7-9.
00:12:44.13\00:12:48.43
It tells us clearly.
00:12:48.46\00:12:50.30
2 Kings 16:7-9.
00:12:50.33\00:12:51.83
It says,
00:12:51.87\00:12:53.20
"So Ahaz sent messengers to,
00:12:53.27\00:12:55.64
I'm going to say
Tiglath Pileser."
00:12:55.67\00:12:58.27
I'm going to call him
King TP for this study.
00:12:58.31\00:13:01.68
All right.
00:13:01.71\00:13:03.04
"So he says to King
TP of Assyria saying,
00:13:03.08\00:13:05.58
'I am your servant and your son.
00:13:05.61\00:13:07.42
Come up and save me
00:13:07.45\00:13:08.78
from the hand of
the king of Syria
00:13:08.82\00:13:11.02
and from the hand
of the king of Israel,
00:13:11.05\00:13:12.52
who rise up against me.
00:13:12.55\00:13:14.89
And Ahaz took
the silver and gold
00:13:14.92\00:13:17.23
that was found in
the house of the Lord,
00:13:17.26\00:13:19.73
and in the
treasuries of the king's house,
00:13:19.76\00:13:21.96
and sent it as a
present to the king of Assyria.
00:13:22.00\00:13:25.47
So the king of
Assyria heeded him,
00:13:25.50\00:13:27.60
for the king of Assyria went
up against Damascus and took it,
00:13:27.64\00:13:31.64
carried its
people captive to Kir,
00:13:31.67\00:13:33.98
and killed Rezin."
00:13:34.04\00:13:36.18
And so, what is
happening here in this passage
00:13:36.21\00:13:38.78
is his response to God is,
Lord, I'm not gonna trust you.
00:13:38.81\00:13:44.72
I'm gonna continue
doing what I wanna do.
00:13:44.75\00:13:47.12
And, in fact, I'm
gonna reach out to the king,
00:13:47.16\00:13:48.49
another king,
00:13:48.52\00:13:49.86
and I'm gonna create an alliance
00:13:49.89\00:13:51.23
with this Assyrian king.
00:13:51.26\00:13:52.59
And I'm gonna
go on about my way,
00:13:52.63\00:13:53.96
and I'm not going
to trust in Your word.
00:13:54.00\00:13:55.76
And so the lesson that
we can learn from this,
00:13:55.80\00:13:57.93
my friends, as our message says,
00:13:57.97\00:14:00.74
and of course, if you read
on about the story of Ahaz,
00:14:00.77\00:14:03.51
he was not a good king.
00:14:03.54\00:14:04.87
He eventually, he didn't
reign as long as other kings,
00:14:04.91\00:14:07.38
because he did not trust in God.
00:14:07.41\00:14:10.25
And so the lessons
00:14:10.28\00:14:11.61
that we can learn
on a personal level
00:14:11.65\00:14:13.18
is if we're not obeying
the Lord now, right now,
00:14:13.21\00:14:17.69
what makes us think
00:14:17.72\00:14:19.22
that we'll have
the faith to trust Him
00:14:19.25\00:14:20.59
when the real trials come?
00:14:20.66\00:14:21.99
Amen
00:14:22.02\00:14:23.36
And that's what we
need to learn to take away
00:14:23.39\00:14:24.73
from this lesson.
00:14:24.76\00:14:26.09
I'm thinking of
James 2:22, right?
00:14:26.13\00:14:27.60
"But do you want to
know, O foolish man,
00:14:27.60\00:14:29.86
the faith
without works is dead."
00:14:29.90\00:14:31.83
And, of course, verse 22 says,
00:14:31.87\00:14:33.20
"Do you see that
faith was working together
00:14:33.23\00:14:35.80
with his works and by
works faith was made perfect."
00:14:35.84\00:14:39.74
So God sometimes will allow us
to walk through trials as Ahaz.
00:14:39.77\00:14:44.11
Of course, his world
literally was falling apart.
00:14:44.15\00:14:46.92
Did he put his
trust in the Lord?
00:14:46.98\00:14:48.45
No, he did not.
00:14:48.48\00:14:49.82
So the lesson we take
away from this, my friends,
00:14:49.85\00:14:51.19
as we're moving forward
00:14:51.22\00:14:52.55
is we need to understand that
00:14:52.59\00:14:53.92
putting our faith in the
Lord is the right thing to do.
00:14:53.96\00:14:56.02
Trusting in the Lord's
word is the just thing to do.
00:14:56.06\00:14:59.16
Absolutely. Amen.
00:14:59.19\00:15:00.63
Wow. Thank you, Pastor Ryan.
00:15:00.66\00:15:02.56
Well, I tell you studying
the Word of God is so exciting.
00:15:02.60\00:15:05.10
There's so many things
to be found and to learn
00:15:05.13\00:15:08.27
lots of names, Ryan too.
00:15:08.30\00:15:09.80
That right.
00:15:09.84\00:15:11.17
I have... King TP.
00:15:11.21\00:15:12.54
Yeah king TP and I
also have that name here.
00:15:12.57\00:15:14.18
So maybe I'll have to
refer to him as that too.
00:15:14.21\00:15:16.75
It's a new one.
00:15:16.78\00:15:18.15
So mine is Monday,
00:15:18.18\00:15:19.51
"Attempted Interception"
00:15:19.55\00:15:20.92
and Pastor Ryan and I have
basically the same passage.
00:15:20.95\00:15:22.78
I have Isaiah 7:3-9.
00:15:22.82\00:15:26.42
And just give me
some quick backdrop again,
00:15:26.45\00:15:28.89
Ryan touched on this briefly,
00:15:28.92\00:15:30.26
but Ahaz becomes king
of Judah in about 735 BC.
00:15:30.33\00:15:35.56
And that he's
about 20 years old,
00:15:35.60\00:15:36.93
which is really young.
00:15:36.97\00:15:38.30
You think about this being king,
00:15:38.33\00:15:39.67
but he's a wicked king.
00:15:39.70\00:15:41.04
Like Ryan mentioned,
00:15:41.07\00:15:42.40
and as the
scripture has mentioned,
00:15:42.44\00:15:43.77
he causes his children
to pass through the fire.
00:15:43.81\00:15:45.51
You have 2
Chronicles Chapter 28,
00:15:45.54\00:15:48.08
excellent reads by the way,
00:15:48.11\00:15:49.44
you just
touched on some of that.
00:15:49.48\00:15:50.91
And then also
you have 2 Kings 16,
00:15:50.95\00:15:53.08
some really good
passages in the Bible
00:15:53.11\00:15:54.62
that gives more of
the story of King Ahaz,
00:15:54.65\00:15:56.89
and what's going on.
00:15:56.95\00:15:58.29
But he worshiped Baal
00:15:58.32\00:15:59.65
and had those
around him worshiping Baal
00:15:59.69\00:16:01.09
in the high places.
00:16:01.12\00:16:02.49
And then in 735, 734 BC,
00:16:02.52\00:16:05.83
you also have
00:16:05.86\00:16:07.23
the
Syro-Ephraimite War going on.
00:16:07.23\00:16:08.96
So you have
Rezin, king of Syria,
00:16:09.00\00:16:11.77
joining forces with
Pekah, king of Israel.
00:16:11.80\00:16:14.27
They're forming
an alliance together.
00:16:14.30\00:16:16.30
King Ahaz says,
00:16:16.34\00:16:17.77
"Oh, no,
00:16:17.81\00:16:19.14
I'm about to be annihilated
00:16:19.17\00:16:20.51
wiped off the face of the earth.
00:16:20.58\00:16:21.91
I need to do something."
00:16:21.94\00:16:23.28
You think about this.
00:16:23.31\00:16:24.65
He's a young man, young king,
00:16:24.68\00:16:26.01
and he's about to
be wiped out, he feels.
00:16:26.05\00:16:27.38
So then he says,
00:16:27.42\00:16:28.75
hey, I'm going to
join forces with who?
00:16:28.78\00:16:30.62
He's going to join
forces with Assyria and King...
00:16:30.69\00:16:33.99
TP. TP, thank you.
00:16:34.06\00:16:35.82
Tiglath
Pileser, king of Assyria.
00:16:35.86\00:16:39.23
And on Monday's lesson,
read this in your lesson,
00:16:39.26\00:16:41.20
I like this part.
00:16:41.23\00:16:42.56
It says,
00:16:42.60\00:16:43.93
"Although appealing to
Tiglath-Pileser for help
00:16:43.97\00:16:46.70
seemed logical and attractive
from a human standpoint.
00:16:46.74\00:16:50.37
God knew it would bring
the Davidic kingdom of Judah
00:16:50.41\00:16:53.88
under foreign control
00:16:53.94\00:16:55.31
from which she
could never recover."
00:16:55.34\00:16:58.88
Now, this is where you see
00:16:58.91\00:17:00.35
the entrance of
the Prophet Isaiah.
00:17:00.38\00:17:03.22
This is in Isaiah 7:3.
00:17:03.25\00:17:07.69
And it says here,
00:17:07.72\00:17:09.06
"Then the Lord said to Isaiah,
00:17:09.09\00:17:10.69
'Go out to meet King Ahaz,
00:17:10.76\00:17:12.93
you and Shear-Jashub your
son at the end of the aqueduct
00:17:12.96\00:17:17.47
from the upper pool
00:17:17.50\00:17:18.87
on the highway to
the Fuller's field."
00:17:18.90\00:17:22.00
Now this is the
first national crisis
00:17:22.04\00:17:25.31
in Isaiah's ministry.
00:17:25.34\00:17:26.68
So Isaiah 6,
00:17:26.71\00:17:28.04
which you studied last
week was the call of Isaiah.
00:17:28.08\00:17:29.98
So here's the
first national crisis
00:17:30.05\00:17:31.88
in Isaiah's ministry.
00:17:31.91\00:17:33.25
So this is about 735, 734 BC.
00:17:33.28\00:17:37.19
And you have the
Syro-Ephraimite coalition.
00:17:37.22\00:17:39.92
And it's interesting because
Isaiah's son comes with him.
00:17:39.95\00:17:44.33
God asks Isaiah
son to go with him
00:17:44.36\00:17:47.30
and meet King Ahaz.
00:17:47.40\00:17:49.30
And they meet where?
00:17:49.33\00:17:50.67
They meet at the aqueduct
00:17:50.73\00:17:52.40
from the upper
pool on the highway
00:17:52.43\00:17:53.90
to the Fuller's Field.
00:17:53.94\00:17:55.27
Now fast forward
about 34, 35 years
00:17:55.30\00:17:58.54
to the second national
crisis in Isaiah's ministry
00:17:58.57\00:18:03.41
was taking place here.
00:18:03.48\00:18:04.85
This is the siege of
Assyria against the Jerusalem.
00:18:04.88\00:18:06.98
So Isaiah 36:2 says,
00:18:07.05\00:18:09.68
"Then the king of
Assyria sent to Rabshakeh
00:18:09.72\00:18:12.62
with a great army from Lachish
to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem.
00:18:12.65\00:18:16.42
And he stood by" where?
00:18:16.46\00:18:18.19
"The aqueduct
from the upper pool,
00:18:18.23\00:18:20.43
on the highway to
the Fuller's Field."
00:18:20.46\00:18:23.00
Very interesting here,
00:18:23.03\00:18:24.37
Isaiah, his
first national crisis
00:18:24.40\00:18:25.90
in his ministry,
00:18:25.93\00:18:27.27
he meets King Ahaz
basically by the aqueduct,
00:18:27.34\00:18:30.61
35 years later, he meet who?
00:18:30.64\00:18:33.38
King Hezekiah at the same place.
00:18:33.41\00:18:35.71
Who's King Hezekiah?
00:18:35.74\00:18:37.08
The son of Ahaz.
00:18:37.15\00:18:39.48
So you have Ahaz who is,
00:18:39.51\00:18:40.95
we know didn't
choose the right way,
00:18:40.98\00:18:43.08
but as we'll study
further on here coming up,
00:18:43.12\00:18:45.59
Hezekiah chose
the way of the Lord.
00:18:45.62\00:18:47.66
So praise the Lord for that.
00:18:47.69\00:18:49.69
So then I'm going back
to this whole meeting here
00:18:49.72\00:18:52.63
of Isaiah and his son.
00:18:52.66\00:18:54.83
And I can only imagine,
00:18:54.86\00:18:56.30
now you've got
Ahaz here who's what,
00:18:56.33\00:18:57.80
has his young kids
go through the fire
00:18:57.83\00:18:59.37
and sacrifice them.
00:18:59.40\00:19:01.10
And here comes
Isaiah with his son
00:19:01.14\00:19:04.24
as part of the ministry.
00:19:04.27\00:19:05.61
Wow. Can you imagine
what that would look like?
00:19:05.64\00:19:06.98
Yes. Wow.
00:19:07.01\00:19:08.34
This is amazing.
00:19:08.38\00:19:09.71
But then Isaiah
introduces his son to King Ahaz,
00:19:09.74\00:19:12.95
and you know,
the meaning of names
00:19:12.98\00:19:14.35
and things like that.
00:19:14.38\00:19:15.72
It's been
interesting to look this up
00:19:15.75\00:19:17.09
and it's in the lesson,
00:19:17.12\00:19:18.45
Isaiah son's
name is Shear-Jashub.
00:19:18.49\00:19:21.72
Boy, I sure hope
I'm saying this right,
00:19:21.76\00:19:23.09
Pastor Ryan.
00:19:23.12\00:19:24.46
Right. Okay.
00:19:24.49\00:19:25.83
And it means a
remnant shall return.
00:19:25.86\00:19:28.43
So the root word for return
00:19:28.46\00:19:29.80
can carry the
definition of repentance.
00:19:29.83\00:19:32.10
So Ahaz needed repentance.
00:19:32.13\00:19:34.37
The people needed repentance.
00:19:34.40\00:19:36.71
So Isaiah son's name was
really a rebuke to the king.
00:19:36.74\00:19:41.28
You know, the name had a message
00:19:41.31\00:19:43.21
for Isaiah and it was from God
00:19:43.24\00:19:45.61
for King Ahaz
and it was from God,
00:19:45.65\00:19:48.45
turn from your sins
or go into captivity.
00:19:48.48\00:19:50.52
So basically he's
saying, turn from your sins now,
00:19:50.59\00:19:53.22
or go into captivity,
00:19:53.25\00:19:54.76
or two, you're
going into captivity,
00:19:54.79\00:19:57.13
but a remnant will return,
00:19:57.16\00:19:59.49
you know, with rebuke,
which is powerful to me.
00:19:59.53\00:20:01.26
There's also a
message of hope here.
00:20:01.30\00:20:03.10
So, yeah, God is
definitely a God of justice.
00:20:03.13\00:20:06.70
We know that, but
He also provides hope.
00:20:06.74\00:20:08.07
There's a way out.
00:20:08.10\00:20:09.44
And, you know, it's interesting.
00:20:09.47\00:20:10.81
It's really a
solemn thought here is that
00:20:10.84\00:20:12.17
the decision was King Ahaz,
00:20:12.21\00:20:13.54
what's he going
to do right here?
00:20:13.58\00:20:15.48
The decision is his, God
wasn't gonna to force him
00:20:15.51\00:20:17.25
to make the decision,
00:20:17.31\00:20:18.65
but this is the way, walk in it.
00:20:18.68\00:20:20.28
But it's up to King Ahaz.
00:20:20.32\00:20:21.65
And I think it's
a good lesson for us
00:20:21.68\00:20:24.29
to learn right now too,
00:20:24.32\00:20:25.65
you know, as we
face different things,
00:20:25.69\00:20:27.02
who are we going to choose?
00:20:27.06\00:20:28.39
God's not going to force
us, but we need to choose God.
00:20:28.42\00:20:29.89
I think it's
Joshua 24:15, it says,
00:20:29.92\00:20:32.73
"As for me and my
house, we will," what?
00:20:32.76\00:20:35.13
"We will serve the Lord." Amen.
00:20:35.16\00:20:37.03
Wow, time's going by in a hurry.
00:20:37.10\00:20:38.43
So this is
Isaiah's message, okay?
00:20:38.47\00:20:40.00
Isaiah 7:4-9,
00:20:40.07\00:20:43.04
and he said to Ahaz,
00:20:43.07\00:20:45.71
"And he said to him,
00:20:45.74\00:20:47.54
'Take heed, and be quiet,
00:20:47.58\00:20:48.91
do not fear or be fainthearted
00:20:48.94\00:20:50.58
for these two stubs
of smoking firebrands,
00:20:50.61\00:20:53.21
for the fierce
anger of Rezin and Syria,
00:20:53.25\00:20:55.52
and the son of Remaliah.
00:20:55.55\00:20:57.72
Because Syria, Ephraim,
00:20:57.75\00:20:59.29
and the son of Remaliah
00:20:59.32\00:21:00.76
have plotted evil
against you, saying,
00:21:00.79\00:21:02.29
'Let us go up
against Judah and trouble it,
00:21:02.32\00:21:04.83
and let us make a gap
in its wall for ourselves,
00:21:04.86\00:21:07.60
and set a king over
them, the son of Tabel.' "
00:21:07.60\00:21:09.93
Verse 7,
00:21:09.96\00:21:11.30
"Thus says the Lord God:
00:21:11.33\00:21:12.67
it shall not stand
nor shall it come to pass.
00:21:12.70\00:21:15.37
For this head of
Syria is Damascus,
00:21:15.40\00:21:17.67
and the head of
Damascus is Rezin.
00:21:17.71\00:21:20.08
Within 65 years,
Ephraim will be broken
00:21:20.14\00:21:22.84
so that it will
not be a people."
00:21:22.88\00:21:25.01
Verse 9,
00:21:25.05\00:21:26.38
"The head of Ephraim is Samaria
00:21:26.41\00:21:27.75
and the head of
Samaria is Remaliah's son."
00:21:27.78\00:21:30.09
This is really key here.
00:21:30.15\00:21:31.49
"If you will not believe,
00:21:31.52\00:21:32.85
surely you shall
not be established."
00:21:32.89\00:21:36.39
You know, to Ahab, to Ahaz
00:21:36.42\00:21:39.03
the situation
was really serious.
00:21:39.06\00:21:40.56
I mean, he was really afraid,
00:21:40.60\00:21:41.93
but as you go back to
the very beginning of this,
00:21:41.96\00:21:43.60
it's in verse 4,
00:21:43.63\00:21:45.03
Jesus is saying, God is saying,
00:21:45.07\00:21:46.53
"Don't worry about
that. It's just two stubs.
00:21:46.57\00:21:49.10
They're just smoking firebrands.
00:21:49.14\00:21:50.47
It's nothing to me."
00:21:50.54\00:21:51.87
And again, I think
another lesson for us to learn
00:21:51.91\00:21:53.71
is that sometimes we
can look at a situation,
00:21:53.74\00:21:56.08
look at the world we're
in and say, Whoa, this is it.
00:21:56.11\00:21:59.58
I think we're done for,
no one can save us from this.
00:21:59.61\00:22:02.65
We know that God is our savior,
00:22:02.68\00:22:04.02
and we can trust in Him
as you were talking about,
00:22:04.09\00:22:05.95
Pastor Ryan.
00:22:05.99\00:22:07.56
Verse 9,
00:22:07.59\00:22:08.92
in order to make this decision
00:22:08.96\00:22:10.33
Ahaz needed to trust
the Lord and His promises.
00:22:10.36\00:22:12.96
He needed to believe in
order to be established.
00:22:12.99\00:22:16.56
Believe and established are
from the same Hebrew root word,
00:22:16.63\00:22:20.10
meaning that which
is reliable or true.
00:22:20.14\00:22:22.77
So therefore Ahaz
needed to be sure.
00:22:22.80\00:22:26.14
Sure in what?
00:22:26.17\00:22:27.54
Sure in the Word of God
in order to be made sure.
00:22:27.58\00:22:31.28
He needed to rely in
order to be reliable.
00:22:31.31\00:22:35.72
And I think here too
it's just, it's really sad
00:22:35.75\00:22:37.79
'cause here you have King Ahaz,
00:22:37.82\00:22:39.39
he was trying to
establish himself.
00:22:39.42\00:22:41.29
He realizes that
the kings of the North,
00:22:41.32\00:22:42.72
they're coming against him.
00:22:42.76\00:22:44.09
And he's thinking
in his own strength,
00:22:44.13\00:22:45.46
my own power,
00:22:45.49\00:22:46.86
I got to survive,
I've got to do something.
00:22:46.90\00:22:48.20
Ah, the king from Assyria,
let me join forces with him.
00:22:48.23\00:22:51.20
He's wanting to survive.
00:22:51.23\00:22:52.57
He's trying to
establish his kingdom,
00:22:52.60\00:22:53.97
but in trying to
establish his kingdom,
00:22:54.00\00:22:56.10
God provided an answering
key in the Prophet Isaiah,
00:22:56.14\00:22:59.84
but he didn't listen.
00:22:59.87\00:23:01.28
And so therefore he
was not established.
00:23:01.31\00:23:02.98
So sad.
00:23:03.01\00:23:04.45
Here are the
lessons that we can learn
00:23:04.48\00:23:06.08
from Isaiah's message to Ahaz,
00:23:06.11\00:23:08.78
trust in God and His promises.
00:23:08.82\00:23:11.22
I want you to
turn to Numbers 23:19.
00:23:11.25\00:23:13.49
This is a really good passage.
00:23:13.56\00:23:14.89
So we hope that
00:23:14.92\00:23:16.26
you're not just
listening to Sabbath School,
00:23:16.29\00:23:17.63
but that you're
actually opening your Bible
00:23:17.66\00:23:18.99
and your Sabbath
School lesson as well.
00:23:19.03\00:23:20.36
And it says, Numbers 23:19,
00:23:20.40\00:23:22.10
"God is not man,
that He should lie,
00:23:22.13\00:23:25.23
or a son of man that
He should change His mind.
00:23:25.27\00:23:28.60
Has he said, and
will He not do it?
00:23:28.64\00:23:30.57
Or has he spoken and
will He not fulfill it?"
00:23:30.61\00:23:33.94
Praise the Lord.
We can trust in God.
00:23:33.98\00:23:36.91
We can count on God's
promises because God is love.
00:23:36.95\00:23:40.52
1 John 4:8. We
know that God is love.
00:23:40.58\00:23:42.62
I think of John
3:16, powerful passage,
00:23:42.65\00:23:46.02
for God so loved the world.
00:23:46.05\00:23:47.62
We can count on God's promises
because God is unchanging.
00:23:47.66\00:23:52.09
Malachi 3:6,
00:23:52.13\00:23:53.46
"For I am the
Lord, I do not change."
00:23:53.50\00:23:56.26
We can count on God's promises
because of His infinite wisdom.
00:23:56.30\00:24:01.00
We think of James.
00:24:01.04\00:24:02.64
We can look at the
passage, James 1:5,
00:24:02.67\00:24:05.01
"If any of you lack wisdom,
00:24:05.04\00:24:06.44
you shall ask of God
who gives generously to all
00:24:06.47\00:24:09.41
without finding fault.
00:24:09.44\00:24:10.78
And it will be given to you."
00:24:10.85\00:24:12.18
Amen.
00:24:12.21\00:24:13.55
You know, in closing, you
know, we're in tough times.
00:24:13.58\00:24:16.35
We know the year 2020 was tough.
00:24:16.38\00:24:18.12
We're just in the
first few weeks of 2021,
00:24:18.15\00:24:20.86
you know, your world
maybe turned upside down
00:24:20.89\00:24:23.22
it may seem to you,
00:24:23.26\00:24:24.59
but I want to leave with you
to trust God, be sure in what?
00:24:24.63\00:24:28.20
The Word of God in
order to be made sure.
00:24:28.23\00:24:30.53
Don't lose your faith.
00:24:30.57\00:24:32.37
We must establish
ourselves in the Word of God.
00:24:32.40\00:24:34.84
We must trust in God.
00:24:34.87\00:24:37.51
I want to encourage you to
build relationship with God
00:24:37.57\00:24:39.91
because to trust
00:24:39.94\00:24:41.28
you have to
build a relationship.
00:24:41.31\00:24:42.91
I love my wife,
but I trust my wife.
00:24:42.94\00:24:45.51
And the reason I trust my wife,
00:24:45.55\00:24:46.88
because we have a
relationship for years now.
00:24:46.92\00:24:49.72
Build that
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:24:49.75\00:24:51.42
Study His Word on a daily basis.
00:24:51.45\00:24:53.42
Go to Him, talk to Him,
00:24:53.46\00:24:55.06
then sit back
00:24:55.09\00:24:56.42
and let Him talk
back to you from His Word.
00:24:56.46\00:24:58.63
So I want to encourage
you to trust in the Lord.
00:24:58.66\00:25:00.96
Believe in God's Word,
and you will be established.
00:25:00.96\00:25:05.17
Praise the Lord. Amen.
00:25:05.20\00:25:07.04
Hey,
00:25:07.07\00:25:08.40
we're just
getting started, right?
00:25:08.44\00:25:09.77
The Book of Isaiah
has so many wonderful gems
00:25:09.80\00:25:11.74
and wonderful lessons to learn.
00:25:11.77\00:25:13.14
We're going to
take a quick break.
00:25:13.17\00:25:14.51
Don't go anywhere.
We'll be right back.
00:25:14.54\00:25:15.91
Ever wish you could watch
00:25:20.62\00:25:21.95
a 3ABN Sabbath
School Panel again,
00:25:21.98\00:25:24.19
or share it on
Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?
00:25:24.22\00:25:27.26
Well, you can
00:25:27.29\00:25:28.69
by visiting
3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com.
00:25:28.72\00:25:32.29
A clean design makes it easy
00:25:32.33\00:25:34.66
to find the
program you're looking for.
00:25:34.73\00:25:36.83
There are also links to
the Adult Bible Study Guide
00:25:36.87\00:25:40.30
so you can follow along.
00:25:40.34\00:25:42.14
Sharing is easy.
00:25:42.17\00:25:43.51
Just click share
00:25:43.57\00:25:44.91
and choose your
favorite social media.
00:25:44.94\00:25:46.57
Share a link, save
a life for eternity.
00:25:46.64\00:25:50.31
Hello, welcome back to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:25:50.35\00:25:52.75
We're going to kick
it over to Pastor John
00:25:52.78\00:25:54.85
for Tuesday's lesson.
00:25:54.88\00:25:56.55
Yeah, no pun intended,
but I have another chance.
00:25:56.58\00:25:58.62
By the way,
00:25:58.65\00:26:00.09
that's the title of
this lesson for today,
00:26:00.12\00:26:01.72
"Another Chance."
00:26:01.76\00:26:03.09
If you have your lessons
00:26:03.12\00:26:04.46
go with me to
Tuesday, January 12th,
00:26:04.49\00:26:08.40
you know, Ryan and Greg
has been laying foundation
00:26:08.43\00:26:12.40
that's so critical at this point
00:26:12.43\00:26:14.60
because they've been
laying out the circumstances
00:26:14.64\00:26:17.31
and the conditions that
Ahaz was facing in the wars
00:26:17.34\00:26:22.04
that were coming up against him.
00:26:22.08\00:26:24.31
But there was
something inside of Ahaz
00:26:24.35\00:26:26.65
that God wanted to get out.
00:26:26.72\00:26:28.32
And I want to just
say this before I go into.
00:26:28.35\00:26:30.59
Lot of times,
00:26:30.62\00:26:31.95
God will bring
difficulty our way
00:26:31.99\00:26:33.79
to break our self-reliance.
00:26:33.86\00:26:36.56
That's something
that Ahaz wasn't getting
00:26:36.59\00:26:39.46
because the Bible says
00:26:39.49\00:26:40.90
when a man's
ways please the Lord,
00:26:40.93\00:26:43.43
he makes even his
enemies to be at peace with him.
00:26:43.47\00:26:45.93
Wow.
00:26:45.97\00:26:47.30
Now, why were his
enemies not at peace with him?
00:26:47.34\00:26:49.40
Because his ways
did not please the Lord.
00:26:49.44\00:26:51.84
And sometimes God
brings difficulty our way
00:26:51.87\00:26:54.71
so that He can break what
we call our self-reliance.
00:26:54.74\00:26:59.08
That's why Tuesday
is so vitally important.
00:26:59.11\00:27:01.35
Isaiah 7:10-13.
00:27:01.38\00:27:03.82
Now let's look at
all the Tiglath Pileser
00:27:03.85\00:27:06.79
and the names
that were difficult.
00:27:06.82\00:27:09.59
The adversaries
coming up against Ahaz,
00:27:09.62\00:27:13.29
and look what the Lord says
through Isaiah, the prophet.
00:27:13.33\00:27:16.20
"Moreover, the Lord
spoke again to Ahaz saying,
00:27:16.23\00:27:19.97
ask a sign for
yourself from the Lord your God,
00:27:20.04\00:27:23.30
ask it either in the
depth or in the height above."
00:27:23.34\00:27:26.54
Meaning from,
00:27:26.57\00:27:27.91
you go from the grave
to the highest heavens.
00:27:27.94\00:27:30.85
"But Ahaz said,
00:27:30.88\00:27:32.21
'I will not ask, nor
will I test the Lord.'
00:27:32.25\00:27:36.32
Then he said
00:27:36.35\00:27:37.69
'Hear now, O house of David!
00:27:37.72\00:27:40.16
Is it a small thing
for you to weary men,
00:27:40.19\00:27:43.73
but will you
weary my God also?' "
00:27:43.76\00:27:47.10
You notice something here.
00:27:47.13\00:27:49.03
Ahaz is saying,
I'm not going to ask.
00:27:49.06\00:27:52.10
Now when the Lord says ask.
00:27:52.13\00:27:53.94
If Solomon did what Ahaz did,
00:27:54.00\00:27:57.07
then Solomon would not
have received the wisdom.
00:27:57.11\00:27:59.34
The Lord said to Solomon,
00:27:59.37\00:28:00.81
"Ask whatever you want."
00:28:00.84\00:28:02.18
And Solomon asked for wisdom
00:28:02.21\00:28:03.78
and Solomon is now known
as one of the wisest men,
00:28:03.81\00:28:06.35
a thousand women later.
00:28:06.38\00:28:09.02
You get a lot of
wisdom out of that,
00:28:09.05\00:28:11.25
but God gave him something
that still to this very day,
00:28:11.29\00:28:14.46
we all admire.
00:28:14.49\00:28:15.82
The wisdom that comes
00:28:15.86\00:28:17.83
when God gives you a
blank slate and says,
00:28:17.86\00:28:21.00
ask for help.
00:28:21.03\00:28:22.36
And I'll give you help.
00:28:22.40\00:28:23.77
Ahaz was given the
privilege to ask from God,
00:28:23.80\00:28:27.34
whatever he needed.
00:28:27.37\00:28:28.77
God was giving Ahaz
a limitless invitation
00:28:28.80\00:28:32.81
to have his request granted.
00:28:32.84\00:28:35.24
Now think about it.
00:28:35.28\00:28:36.61
In the times of war,
00:28:36.64\00:28:37.98
who would you
prefer to be on your side?
00:28:38.01\00:28:39.78
God.
00:28:39.81\00:28:41.28
But in this case,
00:28:41.32\00:28:42.88
one another thing
00:28:42.92\00:28:44.29
we have to come
in realization of
00:28:44.32\00:28:46.69
not only does
God bring difficulty
00:28:46.76\00:28:48.46
to break our self-reliance,
00:28:48.49\00:28:50.33
but God never forces
Himself where He is not invited.
00:28:50.36\00:28:54.30
He will never impose
Himself where He is not invited.
00:28:54.30\00:28:58.10
The writer of the lesson
00:28:58.13\00:28:59.57
brought one of
the questions out.
00:28:59.60\00:29:01.00
Why did Ahaz
respond in the way he did?
00:29:01.04\00:29:03.77
And I'll give a
couple of reasons.
00:29:03.84\00:29:05.37
Ahab responded in the...
00:29:05.41\00:29:07.01
Ahaz responded
in the way he did.
00:29:07.04\00:29:10.21
And this was an
indication of self-reliance
00:29:10.28\00:29:12.78
not one of respect.
00:29:12.81\00:29:15.58
He closed his
heart to God's offer
00:29:15.62\00:29:18.85
because he thought
he could handle it.
00:29:18.89\00:29:21.09
He thought that his
kingship was sufficient.
00:29:21.12\00:29:23.59
And that's why later on,
00:29:23.66\00:29:24.99
he went ahead and
started making alliances
00:29:25.03\00:29:27.13
because he thought,
00:29:27.13\00:29:28.96
if I could handle
this situation myself,
00:29:29.00\00:29:31.97
we'd go back to
the children of Israel.
00:29:32.00\00:29:33.94
Remember the battle.
00:29:33.97\00:29:36.30
What was a small nation...
00:29:36.34\00:29:38.44
Ai.
00:29:38.47\00:29:39.81
Ai, very small two letters.
00:29:39.84\00:29:42.31
Thank you, Jill.
00:29:42.34\00:29:43.75
They figured we beat big armies,
00:29:43.78\00:29:45.68
we got this one.
00:29:45.71\00:29:47.42
That little nation made
them run for their lives.
00:29:47.45\00:29:50.59
Here's my point.
00:29:50.62\00:29:52.85
When anything seems handleable,
00:29:52.89\00:29:56.52
you're not going to find
that word in the dictionary.
00:29:56.56\00:29:58.63
If you think you could
handle whatever comes your way
00:29:58.66\00:30:00.73
without God's help.
00:30:00.80\00:30:02.10
That's the
first step in failure.
00:30:02.13\00:30:04.23
That's why we find in the Bible,
00:30:04.27\00:30:05.60
notice this.
00:30:05.63\00:30:07.00
And this is what we experienced
through our scripture,
00:30:07.04\00:30:08.64
because Ai is not the only one.
00:30:08.67\00:30:10.81
When the word of
the Lord came to Jonah.
00:30:10.87\00:30:13.94
Jonah decided,
00:30:13.98\00:30:15.31
look, not only do
I not need your help,
00:30:15.34\00:30:17.31
I'm not even listening to you.
00:30:17.35\00:30:19.18
But look at Jonah 3:1-2.
00:30:19.21\00:30:22.12
Look at Jonah 3:1-2.
00:30:22.15\00:30:24.89
And it says,
00:30:24.92\00:30:26.25
"Now the word of
the Lord came to Jonah
00:30:26.29\00:30:30.39
the second time, saying,
00:30:30.43\00:30:33.46
'Arise, go to
Nineveh, that great city,
00:30:33.50\00:30:35.30
and preach to it the
message that I tell you.' "
00:30:35.33\00:30:37.73
And we find in verse 2,
00:30:37.77\00:30:39.10
and Jonah decide
this time I'm going.
00:30:39.13\00:30:43.07
When God takes you
00:30:43.10\00:30:44.44
through the washing
machine of personal cleansing,
00:30:44.47\00:30:47.58
which is what
Jonah went through.
00:30:47.61\00:30:49.68
Think about that.
00:30:49.71\00:30:51.05
Jonah went through
a cleansing process.
00:30:51.08\00:30:53.05
He was the only,
Ryan, as an evangelist.
00:30:53.08\00:30:55.42
He was the only one
00:30:55.45\00:30:56.82
that showed up at
an evangelistic series,
00:30:56.85\00:30:58.82
smelling like a fish dinner.
00:30:58.85\00:31:01.66
He got chucked up on
the shore of Nineveh.
00:31:01.69\00:31:05.83
God never intended for him
to get there in that condition,
00:31:05.86\00:31:09.40
but because he
refused God's offer
00:31:09.43\00:31:12.23
because he
refused God's directive.
00:31:12.27\00:31:14.77
He ended up in a condition
00:31:14.80\00:31:16.37
that God said
one way or the other,
00:31:16.40\00:31:18.81
you will comply
with my conditions.
00:31:18.84\00:31:21.28
But notice what the Bible says,
00:31:21.31\00:31:22.64
the reason why we
should not put ourselves
00:31:22.68\00:31:24.55
in such a predicament.
00:31:24.58\00:31:25.98
Psalm 46:1.
00:31:28.15\00:31:29.65
And this was true
00:31:29.68\00:31:31.02
in every
condition of all the battles
00:31:31.05\00:31:32.95
that the Israelites faced.
00:31:32.99\00:31:34.46
God is our refuge
and what else, Jill?
00:31:34.49\00:31:37.09
Our strength. Our strength.
00:31:37.13\00:31:38.46
A very present help in trouble.
00:31:38.49\00:31:41.36
That's right. God
didn't have a past.
00:31:41.40\00:31:43.16
God didn't have a future.
00:31:43.20\00:31:44.53
That's why
whenever I talk about God
00:31:44.57\00:31:46.17
or when I talk about Jesus,
00:31:46.20\00:31:48.00
I don't say Jesus
was the son of God.
00:31:48.04\00:31:50.24
I say He is.
00:31:50.27\00:31:51.67
He's never a was.
00:31:51.71\00:31:53.44
God is never a was.
00:31:53.51\00:31:54.84
He is our refuge
and our strength,
00:31:54.88\00:31:57.71
a very present help in trouble.
00:31:57.75\00:32:00.55
Ahaz refused God's divide offer.
00:32:00.62\00:32:02.62
It led him to difficulty.
00:32:02.65\00:32:04.29
But notice, I'm gonna
bring out about five points.
00:32:04.32\00:32:07.26
One of those is
found in Hebrews 12:25.
00:32:07.29\00:32:11.23
The warning.
00:32:14.10\00:32:17.33
Hebrews 12:25,
00:32:17.37\00:32:19.10
"See that you do not
refuse him who speaks."
00:32:19.13\00:32:22.87
What did Ahaz do?
00:32:22.90\00:32:24.27
He refused God's,
00:32:24.31\00:32:25.64
"For if they did not
escape, who refused him,
00:32:25.67\00:32:28.04
who spoke on earth much
more shall we not escape,
00:32:28.08\00:32:32.91
if we turn away from
him who speaks from heaven."
00:32:32.95\00:32:38.32
The Book of Hebrews
points out five dangers,
00:32:38.35\00:32:41.72
and one of the
dangers was refusing God.
00:32:41.76\00:32:44.56
When we refuse
God, it's dangerous.
00:32:44.59\00:32:47.56
And so many people,
00:32:47.60\00:32:48.90
I said to my wife the other day,
00:32:48.93\00:32:50.27
we always talk about salvation.
00:32:50.30\00:32:51.63
I said,
nobody's going to be lost
00:32:51.67\00:32:53.00
because of sin.
00:32:53.03\00:32:54.50
No one's going to
be lost because of sin,
00:32:54.54\00:32:56.14
but they're going to be lost
00:32:56.17\00:32:57.54
because they
refuse to repent of sin
00:32:57.57\00:32:59.54
because all have sinned.
00:32:59.57\00:33:01.31
No one is going to
be lost because of sin.
00:33:01.34\00:33:03.55
They're going to be lost
00:33:03.58\00:33:04.91
because they
refuse to repent of sin.
00:33:04.95\00:33:06.92
God extends the
help and they refuse God.
00:33:06.95\00:33:09.12
If they refuse the one
who speaks from heaven.
00:33:09.15\00:33:11.89
Well, I think
that enough's said.
00:33:11.92\00:33:15.12
Let's go to another situation.
00:33:15.16\00:33:16.83
Exodus 7:14.
00:33:16.86\00:33:18.79
Look at all the conditions
00:33:18.83\00:33:20.20
where God was
giving these leaders
00:33:20.23\00:33:22.70
more than one opportunity.
00:33:22.73\00:33:24.63
And we know the fate of them.
00:33:24.67\00:33:27.10
Exodus 7:14.
00:33:27.14\00:33:29.00
So the Lord said to
Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hard.
00:33:29.04\00:33:33.54
Why?
00:33:33.58\00:33:34.91
He refuses to let the people go.
00:33:34.94\00:33:38.58
And we know the story.
00:33:38.61\00:33:39.98
Did they go, Ryan?
00:33:40.02\00:33:41.35
That's right. They left with.
00:33:41.38\00:33:42.72
And I read Ellen
White made this point.
00:33:42.75\00:33:44.19
I want to just insert this here.
00:33:44.25\00:33:45.65
Ellen White
says, it was God's plan
00:33:45.69\00:33:48.59
to give Pharaoh the credit
00:33:48.62\00:33:50.79
for freeing Israel,
00:33:50.83\00:33:53.06
because he refused
to participate with God
00:33:53.09\00:33:56.13
in the freeing of Israel,
00:33:56.16\00:33:57.87
God did it
without his participation.
00:33:57.90\00:34:00.77
So when God
gives us an opportunity
00:34:00.84\00:34:02.47
to partner with Him,
00:34:02.50\00:34:03.84
He wants to give us the credit
00:34:03.91\00:34:06.14
and the
partnership of obedience.
00:34:06.17\00:34:08.88
Second thing,
00:34:08.91\00:34:10.25
refusing God affects our hearts.
00:34:10.28\00:34:11.78
And I know we've
talked about this before,
00:34:11.81\00:34:13.18
but Isaiah 1:19-20,
00:34:13.21\00:34:15.25
"If you are
willing and obedient,
00:34:15.28\00:34:17.02
you shall eat of
the good of the land.
00:34:17.09\00:34:18.59
But if you refuse and rebel,
00:34:18.62\00:34:20.79
you shall be
devoured by the sword,
00:34:20.86\00:34:22.72
for the mouth of
the Lord has spoken."
00:34:22.76\00:34:25.56
Let's go now to Hebrews 3:7-11.
00:34:25.59\00:34:28.60
Once again, refusing
God affects the heart.
00:34:28.63\00:34:31.57
It affects the heart.
00:34:31.60\00:34:33.20
Hebrews 3:7 says,
00:34:33.23\00:34:35.10
"Thus therefore as the
Holy Spirit says today,
00:34:35.14\00:34:40.64
if you will hear his voice,"
00:34:40.68\00:34:42.98
what is that?
00:34:43.01\00:34:44.35
"Dot harden your
heart, as in the rebellion,
00:34:44.38\00:34:47.18
in the day of
trial in the wilderness,
00:34:47.22\00:34:49.42
where your fathers tested me,
00:34:49.45\00:34:51.79
tried me
00:34:51.82\00:34:53.15
and saw my works 40 years.
00:34:53.19\00:34:55.82
Therefore I was angry
with that generation and said,
00:34:55.86\00:34:58.86
they always go astray," where?
00:34:58.89\00:35:00.66
"In their heart.
00:35:00.73\00:35:02.06
And they have not known my ways.
00:35:02.10\00:35:04.17
So I swore in my wrath."
00:35:04.20\00:35:06.87
Thirdly, refusing
God is the same spirit
00:35:06.94\00:35:09.57
that surrounds the rejection
of God's Ten Commandments.
00:35:09.60\00:35:13.21
Exodus 16:28,
00:35:13.24\00:35:14.84
"And the Lord said to Moses,
00:35:14.88\00:35:16.21
'How long do you refuse
00:35:16.24\00:35:18.65
to keep My
commandments and my laws.' "
00:35:18.68\00:35:21.12
Brethren, the refusal
of the commandments of God
00:35:21.15\00:35:23.39
is not because God's
commandments are bad,
00:35:23.42\00:35:26.65
but a stuck heart once again,
00:35:26.69\00:35:29.22
refusing to be
obedient at any point
00:35:29.26\00:35:32.23
is because of the
carnal heart of humanity.
00:35:32.26\00:35:34.66
And so, when we get
that precious invitation
00:35:34.73\00:35:38.10
to respond to the
invitation of God.
00:35:38.13\00:35:41.90
Keep this in mind,
00:35:41.94\00:35:43.27
God is not willing that
any one of us should perish.
00:35:43.30\00:35:46.21
God is not willing that
00:35:46.24\00:35:47.58
any one of us
should experience failure.
00:35:47.61\00:35:50.11
But if we simply refuse
00:35:50.15\00:35:51.75
to respond to the
conditions of God,
00:35:51.78\00:35:54.78
the impact of that
refusal will be felt.
00:35:54.82\00:35:59.19
Thank you so much,
00:35:59.22\00:36:00.62
Pastor John and
Greg and Pastor Ryan.
00:36:00.69\00:36:03.56
We're jumping back to Isaiah 7.
00:36:03.59\00:36:05.29
I forgot I
still have my mask on.
00:36:05.33\00:36:06.83
I need to take that off.
00:36:06.86\00:36:08.16
We're jumping back
to Isaiah Chapter 7.
00:36:08.20\00:36:10.97
You know,
00:36:11.00\00:36:12.33
what's so sad to
me in this section
00:36:12.37\00:36:14.47
as each one of
you have brought out
00:36:14.50\00:36:16.07
with this incredible coalition
that came against Judah
00:36:16.10\00:36:19.14
and the fear that
would be an Ahaz's heart.
00:36:19.17\00:36:21.61
I certainly would be afraid.
00:36:21.64\00:36:24.18
And yet God in
His mercy and His love
00:36:24.25\00:36:27.22
extends this grace
and says, just ask a sign.
00:36:27.25\00:36:30.62
Like he's
saying you can trust Me
00:36:30.69\00:36:33.05
and I'll be there for you.
00:36:33.09\00:36:34.42
And just ask for the sign.
00:36:34.46\00:36:36.19
And what's
interesting to me is it says,
00:36:36.22\00:36:38.79
ask a sign for yourself
from the Lord, your God.
00:36:38.83\00:36:41.86
But then when Ahaz says,
00:36:41.90\00:36:43.73
"I don't, I'm not
going to ask for a sign."
00:36:43.77\00:36:46.17
Then it says,
00:36:46.20\00:36:47.54
"Hear now O house David!
00:36:47.60\00:36:48.94
Is it a small thing
for you to weary men
00:36:48.97\00:36:50.31
while you weary my God."
00:36:50.34\00:36:52.17
Awesome.
00:36:52.21\00:36:53.54
Do you notice that shift.
00:36:53.58\00:36:54.91
It was your God
as in Ahaz's God.
00:36:54.94\00:36:57.61
Now it's my God
as in Isaiah's God,
00:36:57.65\00:37:00.38
'cause Ahaz had refused his God.
00:37:00.45\00:37:04.72
So then God says,
00:37:04.75\00:37:06.42
okay, you're not
going to ask for a sign.
00:37:06.45\00:37:08.06
I'm going to give you a sign.
00:37:08.09\00:37:09.76
And that's what
I have is verse 14.
00:37:09.79\00:37:11.83
And Shelley also has verse 14.
00:37:11.86\00:37:14.20
So hopefully I won't step on
00:37:14.23\00:37:15.73
the same section
that she's discussing.
00:37:15.76\00:37:17.93
It says, therefore,
because you're wearying my God,
00:37:17.97\00:37:22.04
because you're not
even reaching out to Him.
00:37:22.07\00:37:24.14
You're not allowing
Him to give you a sign.
00:37:24.21\00:37:25.87
"Therefore, the Lord
Himself will give you a sign.
00:37:25.91\00:37:30.25
Behold, the
virgin shall conceive
00:37:30.28\00:37:31.61
and bear a son
00:37:31.65\00:37:32.98
and shall call
his name Immanuel."
00:37:33.01\00:37:35.32
Now before we unpack that,
00:37:35.35\00:37:36.69
I just want to
look for a brief moment
00:37:36.72\00:37:38.79
at the history of signs
throughout the Word of God.
00:37:38.82\00:37:41.39
You know, in the Bible,
00:37:41.42\00:37:42.89
many times
people asked for signs.
00:37:42.92\00:37:44.86
The one I think of
first of would be Gideon.
00:37:44.89\00:37:47.73
Remember in Judges 6,
00:37:47.76\00:37:49.06
he said,
00:37:49.10\00:37:50.43
am I gonna have
victory over the Midianites?
00:37:50.47\00:37:52.73
And the sign he
asked for him was that
00:37:52.77\00:37:54.44
the fleece would be wet
with dew and the ground dry.
00:37:54.47\00:37:57.17
And he said, well, that
wasn't quite hard enough.
00:37:57.21\00:37:59.54
So the next time
the fleece would be dry
00:37:59.57\00:38:01.38
and the ground wet.
00:38:01.41\00:38:03.18
King Hezekiah
asked God for a sign
00:38:03.21\00:38:05.41
that he would live longer.
00:38:05.45\00:38:07.08
We see this in 2 Kings 20,
00:38:07.15\00:38:08.98
and the sun dialed
00:38:09.02\00:38:10.52
the shadow would
go back 10 degrees.
00:38:10.55\00:38:13.69
The Pharisees and
Sadducees in Matthew 16
00:38:13.72\00:38:16.22
asked Jesus for
a sign from heaven.
00:38:16.26\00:38:17.96
But He said,
00:38:17.99\00:38:19.33
"You're not getting any sign,
00:38:19.36\00:38:20.73
but the sign of
the Prophet Jonah."
00:38:20.76\00:38:23.37
Herod, he hoped
for a sign from Jesus
00:38:23.40\00:38:25.67
because he had heard about Him.
00:38:25.70\00:38:27.04
We see this in Luke 23,
but Jesus answered not a word.
00:38:27.07\00:38:31.94
Now in the Bible,
00:38:31.97\00:38:33.31
it seems more rare
for God to ask someone,
00:38:33.38\00:38:37.05
to ask for a sign
00:38:37.08\00:38:38.41
like God asking
Ahaz to ask for a sign.
00:38:38.45\00:38:41.22
I think about Moses
with the children of Israel.
00:38:41.25\00:38:44.19
And Moses said,
00:38:44.22\00:38:45.69
"What if the children of
Israel don't believe me?"
00:38:45.72\00:38:47.82
This is at the
burning bush experience,
00:38:47.86\00:38:49.56
and God is calling
Moses to deliver the people.
00:38:49.59\00:38:52.13
And Moses says,
00:38:52.16\00:38:53.50
"What if they don't believe me?"
00:38:53.53\00:38:55.16
And God says,
00:38:55.20\00:38:56.53
"The staff you have in your hand
00:38:56.56\00:38:57.90
to throw it down,
00:38:57.93\00:38:59.27
it'll turn into a snake
and then come back to a staff,
00:38:59.30\00:39:01.60
your hand put it
in and pull it out
00:39:01.64\00:39:03.64
and it'll turn to
leprosy and go back to normal.
00:39:03.67\00:39:06.11
The water from the
river would turn to blood
00:39:06.14\00:39:08.08
and then back
on the dry ground."
00:39:08.11\00:39:10.28
And Ahaz, of course,
00:39:10.31\00:39:11.65
was clearly told
to ask for a sign.
00:39:11.68\00:39:14.88
This verse in verse 14,
00:39:14.92\00:39:17.82
the sign that
the Lord Himself gave
00:39:17.85\00:39:20.79
has a dual application,
which the lesson brought out.
00:39:20.82\00:39:24.63
We're going to spend
the balance of our time
00:39:24.66\00:39:26.76
on the application
00:39:26.83\00:39:29.46
that comes in the future.
00:39:29.50\00:39:30.87
That would be
Jesus, the Messiah.
00:39:30.90\00:39:32.87
I want to touch just briefly.
00:39:32.90\00:39:34.77
The lesson talked about it,
00:39:34.80\00:39:36.14
the present day application
for the sign as well.
00:39:36.17\00:39:38.64
Now this is interesting.
00:39:38.67\00:39:40.01
Usually when we read this,
00:39:40.08\00:39:42.14
"The virgin shall
conceive and bear a son
00:39:42.18\00:39:43.95
and should call
his name Immanuel."
00:39:43.98\00:39:45.95
We kind of stop there.
00:39:45.98\00:39:47.32
But if you look at
the literal application,
00:39:47.35\00:39:49.05
you need to keep going.
00:39:49.08\00:39:50.42
The next verse, verse 15 says,
00:39:50.49\00:39:52.32
"Curds and honey He shall eat
00:39:52.35\00:39:54.46
that He may know
to refuse the evil
00:39:54.49\00:39:56.59
and choose the good,
00:39:56.62\00:39:58.43
for before the child
shall know to refuse the evil
00:39:58.46\00:40:01.33
and choose the good,
00:40:01.36\00:40:02.70
the land that you
dread will be forsaken
00:40:02.73\00:40:05.27
by both her kings."
00:40:05.30\00:40:06.63
Now who are the two kings
00:40:06.70\00:40:08.04
that Isaiah is
talking about there?
00:40:08.07\00:40:09.84
That would be the king,
00:40:09.87\00:40:11.21
the Northern tribes of
Israel and the king of Syria.
00:40:11.24\00:40:15.11
So this coalition that
was coming against Ahaz
00:40:15.14\00:40:19.01
that would be broken by time
00:40:19.05\00:40:21.08
this child were to grow up
00:40:21.12\00:40:23.35
and would know to
choose between evil and good.
00:40:23.39\00:40:26.02
So basically by the time
00:40:26.05\00:40:27.42
they reach what 12 years of age,
00:40:27.46\00:40:29.42
that this
kingdom would be broken.
00:40:29.46\00:40:31.33
And then verse 17,
00:40:31.36\00:40:32.83
"The Lord would bring
the house of Assyria upon you
00:40:32.86\00:40:35.33
and your people,
and your father's house,
00:40:35.36\00:40:37.10
days that have not come
00:40:37.13\00:40:38.47
since the day
00:40:38.50\00:40:39.83
that Ephraim
departed from Judah."
00:40:39.87\00:40:41.27
So that's obviously a
prophecy looking forward to 701,
00:40:41.30\00:40:45.17
when Assyria comes
against the city of Jerusalem
00:40:45.21\00:40:48.84
and besieges it.
00:40:48.88\00:40:50.68
And then we know
the end result of that,
00:40:50.71\00:40:52.98
which we will get to.
00:40:53.01\00:40:54.35
God destroyed 185,000 of
the Assyrians in one night.
00:40:54.38\00:41:00.16
So the literal application,
00:41:00.19\00:41:01.52
there are several
different interpretations.
00:41:01.56\00:41:04.59
The lesson mentions two.
00:41:04.63\00:41:06.59
Briefly it could
refer to Isaiah's son,
00:41:06.63\00:41:10.17
not the first son, of course,
we already talked about that,
00:41:10.23\00:41:12.73
but the second son
who's born in Isaiah 8:3.
00:41:12.77\00:41:16.87
If you see there's
a correlation there,
00:41:16.91\00:41:18.54
Isaiah 8:3,
00:41:18.57\00:41:19.91
"I went to the prophetess,
00:41:19.94\00:41:21.28
and she
conceived and bore a son.
00:41:21.31\00:41:22.64
Then the Lord said to me,
00:41:22.68\00:41:24.01
'Call his name,'"
00:41:24.05\00:41:25.38
whatever that is,
00:41:25.41\00:41:26.78
"'for before the child
shall have knowledge to cry
00:41:26.82\00:41:28.62
'My father and My mother,
00:41:28.65\00:41:30.15
the riches of Damascus
and the spoil of Samaria
00:41:30.19\00:41:32.89
will be taken away
before the king of Assyria.' "
00:41:32.92\00:41:35.82
Do you notice,
it's very similar.
00:41:35.86\00:41:37.49
You have the one
before the child is of age
00:41:37.53\00:41:40.50
that the Northern
kingdom of Israel and Syria
00:41:40.56\00:41:43.93
would be destroyed.
00:41:44.00\00:41:45.33
And here you see the
same thing take place.
00:41:45.37\00:41:47.57
Now, of course,
there's no reference
00:41:47.60\00:41:48.94
to the name Immanuel.
00:41:48.97\00:41:50.31
So it's not a
direct correlation.
00:41:50.34\00:41:52.67
The lesson also
mentioned, it could be Hezekiah,
00:41:52.71\00:41:55.34
but Hezekiah was never
referred to as Immanuel.
00:41:55.38\00:41:57.91
And we also clearly know
00:41:57.95\00:42:00.22
that Hezekiah
was definitely of age
00:42:00.25\00:42:02.08
long before that came to pass.
00:42:02.12\00:42:04.49
Now let's look at
the final fulfillment
00:42:04.52\00:42:06.25
or application
00:42:06.29\00:42:07.66
that would be of Jesus.
00:42:07.69\00:42:09.59
We see this
correlation in Matthew 1:23,
00:42:09.62\00:42:13.33
Matthew, of course,
00:42:13.40\00:42:14.73
quotes from this
passage in Isaiah 7:14,
00:42:14.73\00:42:17.87
"Behold, the virgin shall
be with child and bear son.
00:42:17.90\00:42:20.70
They shall call
his name Immanuel, "
00:42:20.74\00:42:23.47
which is translated God with us.
00:42:23.51\00:42:26.01
Now in Isiah's day,
00:42:26.04\00:42:27.64
there were two enemy kings
00:42:27.68\00:42:29.71
poised to take out
God's chosen line of Judah.
00:42:29.74\00:42:32.98
Who were those kings?
00:42:33.01\00:42:34.35
The Northern
kingdom of Israel and Syria.
00:42:34.38\00:42:37.35
In Matthew's day,
00:42:37.39\00:42:39.29
there were two enemy kings
00:42:39.32\00:42:41.46
poised to take out the Messiah.
00:42:41.49\00:42:44.66
That would be King Herod
00:42:44.69\00:42:46.49
and, of course, he
had an alliance with Rome.
00:42:46.53\00:42:50.40
In Isaiah's day,
00:42:50.43\00:42:51.77
the birth of a child
00:42:51.80\00:42:53.13
the sign that God is with us
00:42:53.17\00:42:55.34
pointed to the physical
00:42:55.37\00:42:56.74
and local deliverance
of the nation of Judah.
00:42:56.77\00:42:59.81
In Matthew's day,
00:42:59.84\00:43:01.64
the birth of a child,
00:43:01.68\00:43:03.11
the sign that God is with us
00:43:03.14\00:43:05.48
pointed to the physical
and universal deliverance
00:43:05.51\00:43:08.08
of everyone
everywhere from there since.
00:43:08.12\00:43:13.49
Jesus is the final fulfillment
00:43:13.56\00:43:15.96
of that prophecy in Isaiah 7:14.
00:43:15.99\00:43:18.93
We know He is divine.
00:43:18.96\00:43:20.30
If you jump over
just two chapters,
00:43:20.33\00:43:22.83
Isaiah 9:6,
00:43:22.86\00:43:25.37
"For unto us, a Child is
born, unto us a Son is given,
00:43:25.40\00:43:30.27
and the government
will be upon His shoulder.
00:43:30.31\00:43:32.51
And His name will be
called Wonderful, Counselor,
00:43:32.54\00:43:35.08
Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace."
00:43:35.11\00:43:39.55
He is divine.
00:43:39.58\00:43:41.82
He is not only
divine, He is with us.
00:43:41.85\00:43:45.32
We read this in Matthew 1:23,
00:43:45.35\00:43:48.26
"The virgin will be
with Child and bear a Son.
00:43:48.29\00:43:50.69
They will call
His name Immanuel, "
00:43:50.73\00:43:52.33
which is translated God with us.
00:43:52.36\00:43:55.26
We won't touch any more on that
00:43:55.30\00:43:56.70
'cause I know Shelley's
day touches on God with us.
00:43:56.73\00:43:59.70
He is the root
and branch of Jesse.
00:43:59.73\00:44:03.94
Isaiah Chapter 11.
00:44:04.01\00:44:05.47
We have another
messianic prophecy
00:44:05.51\00:44:07.98
come forward
here in Isaiah 11:1,
00:44:08.01\00:44:10.78
"There shall come forth a
rod from the stem of Jesse,"
00:44:10.85\00:44:14.65
referring to the coming Messiah,
00:44:14.68\00:44:17.19
the Lord Jesus,
00:44:17.22\00:44:18.55
"and a branch shall
grow out of his roots."
00:44:18.59\00:44:21.72
You jump down to verse 10,
00:44:21.76\00:44:24.03
"And in that day,
00:44:24.06\00:44:25.39
there shall be a root of Jesse
00:44:25.43\00:44:27.23
who shall stand a
banner to the people,
00:44:27.30\00:44:29.50
for the Gentiles shall seek him,
00:44:29.53\00:44:31.80
and his resting
place shall be glorious."
00:44:31.83\00:44:35.40
Jesus is the root
and branch of Jesse.
00:44:35.44\00:44:39.31
references this as well.
00:44:39.34\00:44:42.84
I, Jesus have sent my angel
00:44:42.88\00:44:45.25
to testify to you
these things in the churches.
00:44:45.28\00:44:47.48
I am the root and
offspring of David.
00:44:47.52\00:44:51.75
I am the bright
and morning star.
00:44:51.79\00:44:56.62
But He is not only
divine, He's not only with us,
00:44:56.69\00:44:59.83
He's not only the branch,
00:44:59.86\00:45:01.33
He's not only the root of Jesse,
00:45:01.36\00:45:03.77
He is my savior.
00:45:03.80\00:45:06.10
To me that's the
incredible promise.
00:45:06.13\00:45:09.14
This sign that was
given to the people
00:45:09.17\00:45:12.91
at that time carried
forward those hundreds of years
00:45:12.94\00:45:16.31
until the birth of Christ.
00:45:16.34\00:45:18.61
Matthew 1:21.
00:45:18.65\00:45:20.02
"She shall bring forth a son.
00:45:20.05\00:45:21.52
You shall call His name Jesus,
00:45:21.55\00:45:23.49
for He will save His
people from their sins."
00:45:23.52\00:45:28.29
Ahaz was offered the opportunity
00:45:28.32\00:45:31.49
to make a choice
00:45:31.53\00:45:32.86
and to just choose to trust God.
00:45:32.89\00:45:34.86
He chose not to trust God.
00:45:34.93\00:45:36.30
He chose to go his own way.
00:45:36.33\00:45:39.20
And God said, I
will send a deliverer.
00:45:39.23\00:45:42.34
The Lord Himself
will give you a sign.
00:45:42.37\00:45:45.77
The virgin shall
conceive and bear a Son
00:45:45.81\00:45:47.61
and shall call
His name Immanuel.
00:45:47.64\00:45:50.41
Amen.
00:45:50.45\00:45:52.21
We do have the same verses,
00:45:52.25\00:45:53.78
and I'm going to repeat
a couple of those verses.
00:45:53.82\00:45:56.18
I have Thursday,
00:45:56.22\00:45:57.55
"God Is With Us."
00:45:57.59\00:45:58.92
And let's read that again
00:45:58.95\00:46:00.39
because this is
an important promise
00:46:00.42\00:46:03.22
from God.
00:46:03.26\00:46:04.59
It's an important prophecy.
00:46:04.63\00:46:06.63
Isaiah 7:14,
00:46:06.66\00:46:07.96
"Therefore the Lord
Himself will give you a sign."
00:46:08.00\00:46:11.50
And remember,
Ahaz refused the sign.
00:46:11.53\00:46:13.87
So God's telling
Isaiah to tell Ahaz,
00:46:13.94\00:46:18.77
hey, God's gonna give you a sign
00:46:18.81\00:46:21.11
whether you want one or not.
00:46:21.14\00:46:22.91
"Behold, the
virgin shall conceive
00:46:22.94\00:46:26.05
and bear a Son
00:46:26.08\00:46:27.75
and shall call
His name Immanuel."
00:46:27.78\00:46:31.99
Jesus Christ is
the great fulfillment
00:46:32.02\00:46:36.12
of this prophecy.
00:46:36.16\00:46:37.53
What it shows me is that
00:46:37.56\00:46:40.10
God will always be
faithful to His promises.
00:46:40.13\00:46:45.37
Some ways, sometimes in ways
that is beyond our expectation
00:46:45.40\00:46:51.67
because Jesus Christ
was not just the sign.
00:46:51.71\00:46:57.65
He was God who became a human,
00:46:57.68\00:47:02.22
who became the Son of man
00:47:02.25\00:47:04.32
and the Son of
God, God incarnate.
00:47:04.35\00:47:07.62
God came down to
be with us in person.
00:47:07.69\00:47:11.29
So Matthew 1:21,
00:47:11.33\00:47:14.10
the angel is telling Joseph
00:47:14.13\00:47:17.50
that Mary has
conceived by the Holy Spirit
00:47:17.57\00:47:23.54
because, you know, here,
Joseph and Mary are engaged.
00:47:23.61\00:47:27.01
Actually they were married
00:47:27.08\00:47:28.41
because they'd
signed a marriage contract.
00:47:28.44\00:47:30.75
They just hadn't
come together physically.
00:47:30.78\00:47:33.28
They weren't living together.
00:47:33.31\00:47:35.18
There had been no relationship,
00:47:35.22\00:47:38.25
physical relationship
between the two of them.
00:47:38.29\00:47:40.76
So when he finds
out she's pregnant,
00:47:40.79\00:47:42.42
it's like what?
00:47:42.46\00:47:44.83
And then the
angel tells him no, no.
00:47:44.86\00:47:48.03
That what she has conceived,
00:47:48.06\00:47:50.53
who she has conceived
is of the Holy Spirit.
00:47:50.57\00:47:53.40
And in verse 21, Matthew 1:21,
00:47:53.44\00:47:56.87
the angel says she
will bring forth a son.
00:47:56.91\00:47:59.31
You shall call his name Jesus,
00:47:59.34\00:48:03.68
which means the
Lord is salvation.
00:48:03.71\00:48:07.55
And He will save His
people from their sins.
00:48:07.58\00:48:11.49
So all this was done
that it might be fulfilled.
00:48:11.52\00:48:15.02
So we know we can tie
this back to Isaiah 7:14,
00:48:15.06\00:48:19.53
'cause it says
all this was done,
00:48:19.56\00:48:21.06
that it might be fulfilled,
00:48:21.10\00:48:22.43
which was spoken by the Lord
00:48:22.46\00:48:23.80
through the prophets saying,
00:48:23.87\00:48:25.63
"Behold, the
virgin shall be with Child
00:48:25.67\00:48:28.80
and bear a Son
00:48:28.84\00:48:30.41
and they shall
call His name Immanuel,"
00:48:30.44\00:48:34.51
which is translated.
00:48:34.54\00:48:37.35
This is what the scripture says,
00:48:37.38\00:48:38.75
verse 23, God with us.
00:48:38.78\00:48:43.25
God with us.
00:48:43.28\00:48:45.35
This is not an abstract concept.
00:48:45.39\00:48:50.99
God came down
00:48:51.03\00:48:52.36
and He lived on this
earth 33 and a half years
00:48:52.39\00:48:56.00
before He was crucified
and resurrected and returned.
00:48:56.03\00:49:00.67
But you might ask,
well, is God with us now?
00:49:00.70\00:49:03.74
You know,
sometimes people say, well,
00:49:03.77\00:49:05.57
I know the Holy
Spirit lives within me,
00:49:05.61\00:49:08.34
but if Jesus took
our flesh back to heaven,
00:49:08.38\00:49:11.85
He can't, you know, He
can't be with us all here.
00:49:11.88\00:49:15.28
Let me read to you.
00:49:15.32\00:49:16.65
And I encourage
you to look at this,
00:49:16.72\00:49:18.29
Ephesians Chapter 3,
00:49:18.32\00:49:21.06
and let's look at
verse 16 through 19.
00:49:21.09\00:49:27.03
"Jesus lives in our hearts
00:49:27.03\00:49:31.00
by faith,
through the Holy Spirit."
00:49:31.03\00:49:33.00
So Paul writes to the
Ephesians 3:16, he says,
00:49:33.03\00:49:37.94
"Oh that God would grant you
00:49:37.97\00:49:40.28
according to the
riches of his glory
00:49:40.31\00:49:42.61
to be strengthened with might
00:49:42.64\00:49:44.88
through his spirit
in the inner man that"
00:49:44.91\00:49:49.15
and any time you
see that or so that,
00:49:49.18\00:49:51.59
it's a purpose statement.
00:49:51.62\00:49:53.15
So he says,
00:49:53.19\00:49:54.52
the reason I want
you to be strengthened
00:49:54.56\00:49:57.43
with might with dynamite,
dunemis power inside you,
00:49:57.46\00:50:02.90
inside your heart
by the Holy Spirit
00:50:02.93\00:50:05.17
is so that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith.
00:50:05.20\00:50:11.74
What's the purpose of Christ
00:50:11.77\00:50:13.11
dwelling in our
hearts through faith,
00:50:13.14\00:50:15.21
that, I know
they're purpose statement,
00:50:15.24\00:50:18.15
you being rooted
and grounded in love
00:50:18.18\00:50:20.18
may be able to
comprehend with all the saints.
00:50:20.22\00:50:23.25
What is the width, the
length, the depth, the height,
00:50:23.28\00:50:25.42
to know the love of Christ,
00:50:25.45\00:50:27.22
which passes knowledge
00:50:27.26\00:50:28.96
that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God.
00:50:28.99\00:50:32.03
Oh, hallelujah.
00:50:32.06\00:50:34.93
So Jesus, you
shall call Him Jesus.
00:50:34.96\00:50:40.47
That means the
Lord is salvation.
00:50:40.50\00:50:44.84
And it
guarantees eventual victory
00:50:44.87\00:50:49.11
to the remnant of God's people.
00:50:49.14\00:50:51.55
It's the promise
00:50:51.58\00:50:53.15
that God will
be with His people.
00:50:53.18\00:50:55.12
This is a covenant formula.
00:50:55.15\00:50:57.22
What did God always say?
00:50:57.25\00:50:58.79
Part of the formula is,
00:50:58.82\00:51:00.79
I will be their God
and they will be My people.
00:51:00.86\00:51:04.39
So it indicates His relationship
00:51:04.43\00:51:08.16
between God and His people.
00:51:08.20\00:51:10.03
So what's the
significance of such a promise?
00:51:10.07\00:51:13.70
Well, I'll tell you what?
00:51:13.74\00:51:15.07
I praise the Lord that he said,
00:51:15.10\00:51:16.87
I will never leave
you or forsake you.
00:51:16.91\00:51:19.51
And when I was walking
through such a dark time,
00:51:19.54\00:51:23.24
I suddenly realized
00:51:23.31\00:51:26.08
that God's divine
presence was with me.
00:51:26.11\00:51:29.08
I mean, I had a divine awareness
00:51:29.12\00:51:31.02
of His presence with me
00:51:31.05\00:51:32.92
and, you know,
00:51:32.95\00:51:34.29
nowhere in the
Bible does it say,
00:51:34.32\00:51:36.19
nowhere does God say,
00:51:36.22\00:51:37.99
"Hey, if you're my kid,
00:51:38.03\00:51:39.36
you're not going
to have any trouble."
00:51:39.39\00:51:40.76
No Jesus said,
00:51:40.80\00:51:42.10
"Hey, on this earth,
you will have tribulation.
00:51:42.13\00:51:44.47
But don't worry,
I've overcome the world."
00:51:44.50\00:51:48.04
Just because you're God's child
00:51:48.07\00:51:49.40
doesn't mean you're not going
to endure pain and suffering.
00:51:49.44\00:51:53.17
We suffer for many reasons.
00:51:53.21\00:51:54.94
Sometimes we suffer
for our own mistakes.
00:51:54.98\00:51:58.11
Sometimes we suffer for
other people's mistakes.
00:51:58.15\00:52:02.38
Sometimes we
just suffer injustice,
00:52:02.42\00:52:05.52
but God will
settle all accounts.
00:52:05.55\00:52:07.99
You can count on that.
00:52:08.02\00:52:09.79
And when we know
that God is with us,
00:52:09.82\00:52:12.19
it gives us great
assurance and comfort.
00:52:12.23\00:52:14.56
Psalm 23:4, David wrote,
00:52:14.56\00:52:17.90
"Yea though I
walk through the valley
00:52:17.93\00:52:20.30
of the shadow of death.
00:52:20.34\00:52:21.87
I will fear no
evil, for You are with me.
00:52:21.90\00:52:25.81
Your rod and Your
staff, they comfort me."
00:52:25.84\00:52:29.44
The valley of
the shadow of death.
00:52:29.48\00:52:32.65
That's a perilously
threatening situation.
00:52:32.68\00:52:39.19
Boy, we've been
through some, haven't we?
00:52:39.22\00:52:42.02
But we can fear no evil.
00:52:42.06\00:52:44.23
I mean, we can have
that complete assurance
00:52:44.29\00:52:47.03
that our Great
Shepherd is with us.
00:52:47.10\00:52:50.10
He takes His rod.
00:52:50.13\00:52:52.30
This is a comforting instrument.
00:52:52.33\00:52:54.77
It's He defends us.
00:52:54.80\00:52:56.54
It's like a club
00:52:56.57\00:52:57.91
that defenses
for our protection.
00:52:57.94\00:52:59.74
He walks before us, He
protects us from assault.
00:52:59.77\00:53:05.25
And then His staff
was used for guiding.
00:53:05.28\00:53:08.78
And when God is with us,
00:53:08.82\00:53:10.39
we know that our
gracious God is leading
00:53:10.42\00:53:13.96
and guiding and directing us.
00:53:13.99\00:53:16.83
Isaiah 43:2, you
love this, I love this.
00:53:16.86\00:53:20.40
This is a fabulous promise.
00:53:20.43\00:53:23.63
And somebody
who's listening today
00:53:23.67\00:53:27.00
needs to hear this.
00:53:27.04\00:53:29.00
When you pass
through the waters,
00:53:29.04\00:53:31.27
God says, I will be with you.
00:53:31.31\00:53:34.24
Waters are
calamities that overwhelm us.
00:53:34.28\00:53:37.78
And it's symbolic
for chaos and evil.
00:53:37.81\00:53:41.98
But God says,
00:53:42.02\00:53:43.35
when you pass
through the waters,
00:53:43.39\00:53:44.72
I will be with you
and through the rivers,
00:53:44.75\00:53:47.22
they shall not overflow you.
00:53:47.26\00:53:49.36
When you walk through the fire,
00:53:49.39\00:53:53.06
that's a calamity that consumes.
00:53:53.09\00:53:56.50
And he says, when you
walk through the fire,
00:53:56.53\00:53:59.53
you shall not be burned
00:53:59.57\00:54:00.97
nor shall the flames scorch you.
00:54:01.00\00:54:03.61
Doesn't that remind you
00:54:03.64\00:54:04.97
of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego?
00:54:05.01\00:54:07.21
There they are in the fire.
00:54:07.28\00:54:08.94
And all of a
sudden Jesus is with them.
00:54:08.98\00:54:11.51
And the only
thing they came out,
00:54:11.55\00:54:13.52
not smelling like smoke.
00:54:13.55\00:54:15.22
The only thing that burned
when they were in the fire,
00:54:15.25\00:54:18.45
were the ropes
that were binding them.
00:54:18.49\00:54:20.76
So it is such a beautiful thing
00:54:20.79\00:54:23.66
when we think about
walking through the waters.
00:54:23.73\00:54:27.10
Moses' generation
walked through the Red Sea.
00:54:27.13\00:54:29.96
Joshua's generation
walked through the Jordan River,
00:54:30.03\00:54:34.57
but this is a general
promise of God's protection.
00:54:34.60\00:54:37.71
And I wanted to
read something to you
00:54:37.74\00:54:40.24
because, you know,
00:54:40.28\00:54:41.88
if we look at the
history of God's people,
00:54:41.91\00:54:44.65
we see that God with
us, this is a true promise.
00:54:44.68\00:54:48.32
And there was something
so sweet in our quarterly.
00:54:48.35\00:54:54.66
And here's what it says.
00:54:54.69\00:54:56.56
Where was the Lord
00:54:56.59\00:54:57.93
when the Babylonians threw
00:54:57.96\00:54:59.29
Daniel's three
friends into the fire?
00:54:59.33\00:55:01.50
He was with them.
00:55:01.53\00:55:02.93
Where was the Lord
00:55:02.96\00:55:04.30
during the time
of Jacob's trouble
00:55:04.33\00:55:05.67
when he wrestled until daybreak?
00:55:05.70\00:55:08.20
Hey, listen, Jacob's arms
as close as you could get.
00:55:08.24\00:55:12.47
And then it says that
when Stephen was mobbed,
00:55:12.51\00:55:17.35
where was the Lord?
00:55:17.38\00:55:18.85
He was standing
00:55:18.88\00:55:20.22
at the right hand of
the throne of the Father.
00:55:20.25\00:55:23.39
What do you
mean He was standing?
00:55:23.42\00:55:24.75
The Bible says that
00:55:24.79\00:55:26.25
Jesus is sitting
00:55:26.29\00:55:28.16
at the right hand of the throne,
00:55:28.19\00:55:29.52
but I love this.
00:55:29.56\00:55:30.93
Morris Venden,
00:55:30.96\00:55:32.29
who is a an
Adventist pastor said this.
00:55:32.33\00:55:37.23
Why did Stephen
see Jesus standing?
00:55:37.27\00:55:41.74
And he said,
00:55:41.77\00:55:43.10
"Jesus wasn't gonna
take that sitting down."
00:55:43.14\00:55:46.17
So it is true.
00:55:46.21\00:55:49.14
It's a promise
that God is with us.
00:55:49.18\00:55:51.58
He will never
leave you or forsake you.
00:55:51.61\00:55:53.72
Amen
00:55:53.78\00:55:55.25
Praise the
Lord. Praise the Lord.
00:55:55.28\00:55:57.05
It's been an exciting study.
00:55:57.09\00:55:58.42
Let's go through it
and get some final remarks.
00:55:58.45\00:55:59.95
Sure.
00:56:00.09\00:56:01.46
You know, Ryan, something
else that stood out to me
00:56:01.49\00:56:03.89
about this
whole thing with Ahaz,
00:56:03.96\00:56:06.29
is that God
hadn't given up on him,
00:56:06.33\00:56:08.83
even though he's
such a wicked king,
00:56:08.86\00:56:11.00
he sent Isaiah
the prophet to him
00:56:11.03\00:56:13.37
and he says, take
heed, be quiet, do not fear.
00:56:13.44\00:56:16.47
So I don't know where you're at.
00:56:16.50\00:56:17.84
You may feel, you know what?
00:56:17.87\00:56:19.21
I'm so bad, God
would never, you know what?
00:56:19.24\00:56:20.68
You're special to God.
00:56:20.71\00:56:22.04
So I want to encourage you today
00:56:22.08\00:56:23.45
to build that relationship,
00:56:23.48\00:56:24.81
to find God, to say,
00:56:24.85\00:56:26.18
let me find what
You've got in Your Word,
00:56:26.21\00:56:27.75
because God loves you.
00:56:27.78\00:56:30.79
When God gives you
00:56:30.82\00:56:32.15
the privilege of
asking for a sign,
00:56:32.19\00:56:34.72
Matthew 7:7,
00:56:34.76\00:56:36.09
"Ask and it shall be given,
00:56:36.12\00:56:38.59
seek and you will find,
00:56:38.63\00:56:40.30
knock and the
door will be open."
00:56:40.33\00:56:43.10
Take advantage of the blessing
00:56:43.13\00:56:45.17
that God wants to
put in your possession.
00:56:45.20\00:56:48.27
Amen.
00:56:48.30\00:56:49.64
Isaiah 41:10,
00:56:49.67\00:56:51.01
"Fear not, for I am
with you, be not dismayed,
00:56:51.04\00:56:53.01
I am your God.
00:56:53.04\00:56:54.38
I will strengthen
you, I will help you,
00:56:54.41\00:56:56.08
I will uphold you with
my righteous right arm."
00:56:56.11\00:56:59.61
So if you're afraid today,
if you're facing something
00:56:59.65\00:57:02.48
that seems insurmountable,
the Lord Jesus will help you.
00:57:02.52\00:57:06.82
Listen, I love Isaiah 61.
00:57:06.89\00:57:09.66
And I'm gonna read verse 3
00:57:09.69\00:57:11.09
because it's talking
about God being with us,
00:57:11.13\00:57:14.10
"To comfort all who mourn,
00:57:14.13\00:57:16.87
to console those
who mourn in Zion,
00:57:16.90\00:57:18.93
to give them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
00:57:18.97\00:57:24.11
the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness."
00:57:24.14\00:57:27.21
Boy, I'll take that
wardrobe change any day,
00:57:27.28\00:57:30.55
"That they may be
called trees of righteousness,
00:57:30.58\00:57:33.55
the planting of the Lord,
that He may be glorified."
00:57:33.62\00:57:37.72
Praise the Lord.
Thank you guys so much.
00:57:37.75\00:57:39.15
It was a special lesson
00:57:39.19\00:57:41.06
learning so much in
how to trust in the Lord.
00:57:41.09\00:57:42.79
And we know sometimes
God will send us trials.
00:57:42.82\00:57:45.96
He will allow us to
go through that fire,
00:57:45.99\00:57:48.30
but He promises
to indeed be with us.
00:57:48.33\00:57:51.00
We just need to
learn to trust Him.
00:57:51.03\00:57:52.37
Don't be like King
Ahaz, right? That's right.
00:57:52.40\00:57:54.67
Learn to trust in
the Word of the Lord
00:57:54.70\00:57:56.50
because He is sure.
00:57:56.54\00:57:58.17
My friends, thank you so
much for joining us this week.
00:57:58.21\00:58:00.84
Gotta come back
next week though,
00:58:00.91\00:58:02.34
because we're going to be taking
00:58:02.38\00:58:03.71
on lesson four, entitled,
00:58:03.78\00:58:05.31
"The Hard Way."
00:58:05.35\00:58:06.68
We'll see you right back here.
00:58:06.75\00:58:08.08
God bless.
00:58:08.12\00:58:09.45